"Is that all?" was the
sentence no one liked to utter.
But Stumper roared at them. "A snail shell!" he boomed; "of course
it's a snail shell! But did you ever see such a snail shell in your
lives before? Look at the colour! Look at the shape! Put it against
your ears and hear it singing!" He was furious with their lack of
appreciation.
"It's the common sort," said Uncle Felix, braver than the others,
"something or other vulgaris--"
"Hundreds of them everywhere," mentioned Tim beneath his breath to
Judy.
But Stumper overheard them.
"Common sort! Hundreds everywhere!" he shouted, his voice almost
choking in his throat; "look at the colour! Look at the shape, I tell
you! Listen to it!" He said the last words with a sudden softness.
They lowered their heads again for a new examination.
"What more d'you want, I'd like to know? There's colour for you!
There's wonder! There's a sheer bit of living beauty!" and he lowered
his head again so eagerly that it knocked audibly against Tim's skull.
"Please move your nose away," said Tim, "I can't see."
"Common indeed!" growled the soldier, making room willingly enough,
while they obeyed his booming orders.
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