And the effect of his presence upon the other Authorities was
significant. Not that the Authorities admitted or even were aware of
it, but that the children saw them differently. Aunt Emily, for
instance, whom they used to dread, they now felt sorry for. She was so
careful and particular that she was afraid of life, afraid of living.
Prudence was slowly killing her. Everything must be done in a certain
way that made it safe; only, by the time it was safe it was no longer
interesting. They saw clearly how she missed everything owing to the
excessive caution and preparation in her: by the time she was ready,
the thing had simply left. Instead of coming into the hayfield at once
and enjoying it, she uttered so many warnings and gave so much advice
against disaster--"better take this," and "better not take that"--that
by the time they got there the hayfield had lost all its wonder. It
was just a damp, untidy hayfield.
Daddy, however, gained in glory. He approved of his big brother. On
his return from London every evening the first thing he asked was,
"What have you all been up to to-day? Has Uncle Felix given you the
moon or rolled the sun and stars into a coloured ball?" Weeden, too,
had grown in mystery--he made the garden live, and understood the
secret life of every growing thing; while Thompson and Mrs.
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