Astormynightstill；anightthatsweepsthewiresoftheelectrictelegraphwithawildandfitfulhand；anightsoverystormy，withtheaddedstormofthetrain-progressthroughit，thatwhentheGuardcomesclamberingroundtomarktheticketswhileweareatfullspeedareallyhorribleperformanceinanexpresstrain，thoughheholdsontotheopenwindowbyhiselbowsinthemostdeliberatemanner，hestandsinsuchawhirlwindthatIgriphimfastbythecollar，andfeelitnexttomanslaughtertolethimgo。

　　Still，whenheisgone，thesmall，smallbirdremainsathisfrontwiresfeeblytwitteringtome-twitteringandtwittering，until，leaningbackinmyplaceandlookingathimindrowsyfascination，Ifindthatheseemstojogmymemoryaswerushalong。

　　Uncommercialtravelsthusthesmall，smallbirdhavelainintheiridlethriftlesswaythroughallthisrangeofswampanddyke，asthroughmanyotheroddplaces；andabouthere，asyouverywellknow，arethequeeroldstonefarm-houses，approachedbydrawbridges，andthewindmillsthatyougetatbyboats。Here，arethelandswherethewomenhoeanddig，paddlingcanoe-wisefromfieldtofield，andherearethecabaretsandotherpeasant-houseswherethestonedove-cotesinthelitteredyardsareasstrongaswarders’towersinoldcastles。Here，arethelongmonotonousmilesofcanal，withthegreatDutch-builtbargesgarishlypainted，andthetowinggirls，sometimesharnessedbytheforehead，sometimesbythegirdleandtheshoulders，notapleasantsighttosee。ScatteredthroughthiscountryaremightyworksofVAUBAN，whomyouknowabout，andregimentsofsuchcorporalsasyouheardofonceuponatime，andmanyablue-eyedBebelle。Throughtheseflatdistricts，intheshiningsummerdays，walkthoselong，grotesquefilesofyoungnovicesinenormousshovel-hats，whomyourememberblackeningthegroundcheckeredbytheavenuesofleafytrees。AndnowthatHazebrouckeslumberscertainkilometresahead，recallthesummereveningwhenyourdustyfeetstrollingupfromthestationtendedhap-hazardtoaFairthere，wheretheoldestinhabitantswerecirclingroundandroundabarrel-organonhobby-

　　horses，withthegreatestgravity，andwheretheprincipalshowintheFairwasaReligiousRichardson’s-literally，onitsownannouncementingreatletters，THEATRERELIGIEUX。InwhichimprovingTemple，thedramaticrepresentationwasof’alltheinterestingeventsinthelifeofourLord，fromtheMangertotheTomb；’theprincipalfemalecharacter，withoutanyreservationorexception，beingatthemomentofyourarrival，engagedintrimmingtheexternalModeratorsasitwasgrowingdusk，whilethenextprincipalfemalecharactertookthemoney，andtheYoungSaintJohndisportedhimselfupsidedownontheplatform。

　　Lookingupatthispointtoconfirmthesmall，smallbirdineveryparticularhehasmentioned，Ifindhehasceasedtotwitter，andhasputhisheadunderhiswing。Therefore，inmydifferentwayI

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