v.] HARRY’S DREAM. 271

 

all very well if one happened to be a juggler or con-
juror, or anything of that kind, but I don’t see any
fun in it as it is.

‘Fun in it?’ said the little brown gentleman at
once. ‘No, of course not, but you see tea on it, which
is much better. Who ever saw fun in a tea-table ?’

“You know what I mean, quite well,’ replied
Harry, by no means improved in temper by this
rejoinder. ‘And I don’t see why you should turn
everything a fellow says into a joke. I say it is stupid
to have a table which never stands still—I know I
wouldn’t have one in my room at Eton if I knew it’

‘Probably not,’ remarked the old gentleman in a
grave tone. ‘Probably not. But then we know that
everything is exactly as it should be at Eton. There
is a wisdom and consistency in the arrangement of
that ancient school which we in Fairyland immensely
admire, but which we cannot hope to equal.’

‘Well, cried Harry, naturally pleased to hear
praise of the place of which all Etonians are so proud,
‘I’m glad you stick up for the old school, at all
events !’

‘Who would not do so ?’ replied his friend. ‘ Fairies,
who love absurdities of all kinds, could hardly help
giving their approval to that excellent place of educa-
tion.

‘Absurdities!’ exclaimed the boy. ‘I don’t
understand what you mean,’

‘Oh dear no! not at all!’ observed the old gentle-
man sarcastically. ‘There is nothing absurd about
Eton ways and Eton ideas at all. It isn’t the least
absurd, for instance, to make it essential to a boy’s