h-g-wells_the-wonderful-visit.csv

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"I the Night of the Strange Bird on the Night of the Strange Bird , many people at Sidderton ( and some nearer ) see a Glare on the Sidderford moor . but no one in Sidderford see it , for most of Sidderford be abe . all day the wind have be rise , so that the lark on the moor chirrup fitfully near the ground , or rise only to be drive like leave before the wind . the sun set in a bloody welter of cloud , and the moon be hide . the Glare , they",hg_wells
"say , be golden like a beam shine out of the sky , not a uniform blaze , but break all over by curve flash like the waving of sword . it last but a moment and leave the night dark and obscure . there be letter about it in Nature , and a rough drawing that no one think very like . ( you may see it for yourself — the drawing that be unlike the Glare — on page 42 of Vol . CCLX of that publication . ) none in Sidderford see the light , but Annie",hg_wells
", Hooker Durgan ’s wife , be lie awake , and she see the reflection of it — a flicker tongue of gold — dance on the wall . she , too , be one of those who hear the sound . the other who hear the sound be Lumpy Durgan , the half - wit , and Amory ’s mother . they say it be a sound like child singe and a throbbing of harp string , carry on a rush of note like that which sometimes come from an organ . it begin and end like the opening",hg_wells
"and shutting of a door , and before and after they hear nothing but the night wind howl over the moor and the noise of the cave under Sidderford cliff . Amory ’s mother say she want to cry when she hear it , but Lumpy be only sorry he could hear no more . that be as much as anyone can tell you of the Glare upon Sidderford Moor and the allege music therewith . and whether these have any real connection with the Strange Bird whose history follow , be more than I can say . but I",hg_wells
"set it down here for reason that will be more apparent as the story proceed . II the come of the Strange Bird Sandy Bright be come down the road from Spinner ’s carry a side of bacon he have take in exchange for a clock . he see nothing of the light but he hear and see the Strange Bird . he suddenly hear a flapping and a voice like a woman wail , and be a nervous man and all alone , he be alarmed forthwith , and turn ( all a - tremble ) see something large",hg_wells
"and black against the dim darkness of the cedar up the hill . it seem to be come right down upon he , and incontinently he drop his bacon and set off run , only to fall headlong . he try in vain — such be his state of mind — to remember the beginning of the Lord ’s Prayer . the strange bird flap over he , something large than himself , with a vast spread of wing , and , as he think , black . he scream and give himself up for lost . then it go",hg_wells
"past he , sail down the hill , and , soar over the vicarage , vanish into the hazy valley towards Sidderford . and Sandy Bright lie upon his stomach there , for ever so long , stare into the darkness after the strange bird . at last he get upon his knee and begin to thank Heaven for his merciful deliverance , with his eye downhill . he go on down into the village , talk aloud and confess his sin as he go , lest the strange bird should come back . all who hear he think he",hg_wells
"drunk . but from that night he be a changed man , and have do with drunkenness and defraud the revenue by sell silver ornament without a licence . and the side of bacon lie upon the hillside until the tallyman from Portburdock find it in the morning . the next who see the Strange Bird be a solicitor ’s clerk at Iping Hanger , who be climb the hill before breakfast , to see the sunrise . save for a few dissolve wisps of cloud the sky have be blow clear in the night . at first he think",hg_wells
"it be an eagle he see . it be near the zenith , and incredibly remote , a mere bright speck above the pink cirri , and it seem as if it flutter and beat itself against the sky , as an imprisoned swallow might do against a window pane . then down it come into the shadow of the earth , sweep in a great curve towards Portburdock and round over the Hanger , and so vanish behind the wood of Siddermorton Park . it seem large than a man . just before it be hide , the light",hg_wells
"of the rise sun smite over the edge of the down and touch its wing , and they flash with the brightness of flame and the colour of precious stone , and so pass , leave the witness agape . a ploughman go to his work , along under the stone wall of Siddermorton Park , see the Strange Bird flash over he for a moment and vanish among the hazy interstice of the beech tree . but he see little of the colour of the wing , witness only that its leg , which be long , seem pink",hg_wells
"and bare like naked flesh , and its body mottle white . it smite like an arrow through the air and be go . these be the first three eyewitness of the Strange Bird . now in these day one do not cower before the devil and one ’s own sinfulness , or see strange iridiscent wing in the light of dawn , and say nothing of it afterwards . the young solicitor ’s clerk tell his mother and sister at breakfast , and , afterwards , on his way to the office at Portburdock , speak of it to",hg_wells
"the blacksmith of Hammerpond , and spend the morning with his fellow clerk marvel instead of copy deed . and Sandy Bright go to talk the matter over with Mr.   Jekyll , the "" primitive "" minister , and the ploughman tell old Hugh and afterwards the vicar of Siddermorton . "" they be not an imaginative race about here , "" say the Vicar of Siddermorton , "" I wonder how much of that be true . bar that he think the wing be brown it sound uncommonly like a Flamingo . "" iii the hunting of the",hg_wells
"Strange Bird the Vicar of Siddermorton ( which be nine mile inland from Siddermouth as the crow fly ) be an ornithologist . some such pursuit , botany , antiquity , folklore , be almost inevitable for a single man in his position . he be give to geometry also , propound occasionally impossible problem in the Educational Times , but ornithology be his forte . he have already add two visitor to the list of occasional british bird . his name be well - know in the column of the Zoologist ( I be afraid it may be forget",hg_wells
"by now , for the world move apace ) . and on the day after the coming of the Strange Bird , come first one and then another to confirm the ploughman ’s story and tell he , not that it have any connection , of the Glare upon Sidderford moor . now , the Vicar of Siddermorton have two rival in his scientific pursuit ; Gully of Sidderton , who have actually see the Glare , and who it be send the drawing to Nature , and Borland the natural history dealer , who keep the marine laboratory at",hg_wells
"Portburdock . Borland , the Vicar thought , should have stick to his copepod , but instead he keep a taxidermist , and take advantage of his littoral position to pick up rare sea bird . it be evident to anyone who know anything of collect that both these man would be scour the country after the strange visitant , before twenty - four hour be out . the Vicar ’s eye rest on the back of saunder ' British Birds , for he be in his study at the time . already in two place there be enter :",hg_wells
""" the only know british speciman be secure by the Rev. K. Hilyer , Vicar of Siddermorton . "" a third such entry . he doubt if any other collector have that . he look at his watch — two . he have just lunch , and usually he "" rest "" in the afternoon . he know it would make he feel very disagreeable if he go out into the hot sunshine — both on the top of his head and generally . yet Gully perhaps be out , prowl observant . suppose it be something very good and",hg_wells
"Gully get it ! his gun stand in the corner . ( the thing have iridiscent wing and pink leg ! the chromatic conflict be certainly exceedingly stimulating ) . he take his gun . he would have go out by the glass door and verandah , and down the garden into the hill road , in order to avoid his housekeeper ’s eye . he know his gun expedition be not approve of . but advance towards he up the garden , he see the curate ’s wife and her two daughter , carry tennis racket . his curate",hg_wells
"’s wife be a young woman of immense will , who use to play tennis on his lawn , and cut his rose , differ from he on doctrinal point , and criticise his personal behaviour all over the parish . he go in abject fear of she , be always try to propitiate she . but so far he have clung to his ornithology .   … however , he go out by the front door . IV the hunting of the Strange Bird ( continue ) if it be not for collector England would be full , so",hg_wells
"to speak , of rare bird and wonderful butterfly , strange flower and a thousand interesting thing . but happily the collector prevent all that , either kill with his own hand or , by buy extravagantly , procure people of the low class to kill such eccentricity as appear . it make work for people , even though act of Parliament interfere . in this way , for instance , he be kill off the chough in Cornwall , the Bath white butterfly , the Queen of Spain Fritillary ; and can plume himself upon the extermination of the",hg_wells
"Great Auk , and a hundred other rare bird and plant and insect . all that be the work of the collector and his glory alone . in the name of Science . and this be right and as it should be ; eccentricity , in fact , be immorality — think over it again if you do not think so now — just as eccentricity in one ’s way of thinking be madness ( I defy you to find another definition that will fit all the case of either ) ; and if a species be rare it follow",hg_wells
"that it be not fit to survive . the collector be after all merely like the foot soldier in the day of heavy armour — he leave the combatant alone and cut the throat of those who be overthrow . so one may go through England from end to end in the summer time and see only eight or ten commonplace wild flower , and the commoner butterfly , and a dozen or so common bird , and never be offend by any breach of the monotony , any splash of strange blossom or flutter of unknown wing . all",hg_wells
"the rest have be "" collect "" year ago . for which cause we should all love collector , and bear in mind what we owe they when their little collection be display . these camphorate little drawer of theirs , their glass case and blot - paper book , be the grave of the Rare and the Beautiful , the symbol of the Triumph of Leisure ( morally spend ) over the Delights of Life . ( all of which , as you very properly remark , have nothing whatever to do with the Strange Bird . ) v",hg_wells
"the hunting of the Strange Bird ( continue ) there be a place on the moor where the black water shine among the succulent moss , and the hairy sundew , eater of careless insect , spread its red - stain hungry hand to the God who give his creature — one to feed another . on a ridge thereby grow birch with a silvery bark , and the soft green of the larch mingle with the dark green fir . thither through the honey hum heather come the Vicar , in the heat of the day , carry a",hg_wells
"gun under his arm , a gun load with swanshot for the Strange Bird . and over his disengaged hand he carry a pocket handkerchief wherewith , ever and again , he wipe his beady face . he go by and on past the big pond and the pool full of brown leave where the Sidder arise , and so by the road ( which be at first sandy and then chalky ) to the little gate that go into the park . there be seven step up to the gate and on the further side six down again —",hg_wells
"lest the deer escape — so that when the Vicar stand in the gateway his head be ten foot or more above the ground . and look where a tumult of bracken frond fill the hollow between two group of beech , his eye catch something particoloure that waver and go . suddenly his face gleam and his muscle grow tense ; he duck his head , clutch his gun with both hand , and stand still . then watch keenly , he come on down the step into the park , and still hold his gun in both hand",hg_wells
", creep rather than walk towards the jungle of bracken . nothing stir , and he almost fear that his eye have play he false , until he reach the fern and have go rustle breast high into they . then suddenly rise something full of waver colour , twenty yard or less in front of his face , and beat the air . in another moment it have flutter above the bracken and spread its pinion wide . he see what it be , his heart be in his mouth , and he fire out of pure surprise and",hg_wells
"habit . there be a scream of superhuman agony , the wing beat the air twice , and the victim came slant swiftly downward and strike the ground — a struggle heap of writhe body , broken wing and fly bloodstaine plume — upon the turfy slope behind . the Vicar stand aghast , with his smoking gun in his hand . it be no bird at all , but a youth with an extremely beautiful face , clothe in a robe of saffron and with iridescent wing , across whose pinion great wave of colour , flush of purple",hg_wells
"and crimson , golden green and intense blue , pursue one another as he writhe in his agony . never have the Vicar see such gorgeous flood of colour , not stain glass window , not the wing of butterfly , not even the glory of crystal see between prism , no colour on earth could compare with they . twice the Angel raise himself , only to fall over sideways again . then the beating of the wing diminish , the terrified face grow pale , the flood of colour abate , and suddenly with a sob he lie",hg_wells
"prone , and the change hue of the broken wing fade swiftly into one uniform dull grey hue . "" oh ! what have happen to I ? "" cry the Angel ( for such it be ) , shudder violently , hand outstretche and clutch the ground , and then lie still . "" dear I ! "" say the Vicar . "" I have no idea . "" he come forward cautiously . "" excuse I , "" he say , "" I be afraid I have shoot you . "" it be the obvious remark . the",hg_wells
"Angel seem to become aware of his presence for the first time . he raise himself by one hand , his brown eye stare into the Vicar ’s . then , with a gasp , and bite his nether lip , he struggle into a sit position and survey the Vicar from top to toe . "" a man ! "" say the Angel , clasp his forehead ; "" a man in the mad black clothe and without a feather upon he . then I be not deceive . I be indeed in the Land of Dreams ! """,hg_wells
"VI the Vicar and the Angel now there be some thing frankly impossible . the weak intellect will admit this situation be impossible . the Athenaeum will probably say as much should it venture to review this . sunbespattered fern , spread beech tree , the Vicar and the gun be acceptable enough . but this Angel be a different matter . plain sensible people will scarcely go on with such an extravagant book . and the Vicar fully appreciate this impossibility . but he lack decision . consequently he go on with it , as you shall immediately hear",hg_wells
". he be hot , it be after dinner , he be in no mood for mental subtlety . the Angel have he at a disadvantage , and far distract he from the main issue by irrelevant iridescence and a violent fluttering . for the moment it never occur to the Vicar to ask whether the Angel be possible or not . he accept he in the confusion of the moment , and the mischief be do . put yourself in his place , my dear Athenaeum . you go out shooting . you hit something . that alone would",hg_wells
"disconcert you . you find you have hit an Angel , and he writhe about for a minute and then sit up and address you . he make no apology for his own impossibility . indeed , he carry the charge clean into your camp . "" a man ! "" he say , point . "" a man in the mad black clothe and without a feather upon he . then I be not deceive . I be indeed in the Land of Dreams ! "" you must answer he . unless you take to your heel . or",hg_wells
"blow his brain out with your second barrel as an escape from the controversy . "" the Land of Dreams ! pardon I if I suggest you have just come out of it , "" be the Vicar ’s remark . "" how can that be ? "" say the Angel . "" your wing , "" say the Vicar , "" be bleed . before we talk , may I have the pleasure — the melancholy pleasure — of tie it up ? I be really most sincerely sorry .   … "" the Angel put his hand behind",hg_wells
"his back and wince . the Vicar assist his victim to stand up . the Angel turn gravely and the Vicar , with numberless insignificant pant parenthesis , carefully examine the injure wing . ( they articulate , he observe with interest , to a kind of second glenoid on the outer and upper edge of the shoulder blade . the left wing have suffer little except the loss of some of the primary wing - quill , and a shot or so in the ala spuria , but the humerus bone of the right be evidently smash . )",hg_wells
"the Vicar stanch the bleeding as well as he could and tie up the bone with his pocket handkerchief and the neck wrap his housekeeper make he carry in all weather . "" I ’m afraid you will not be able to fly for some time , "" say he , feel the bone . "" I do n’t like this new sensation , "" say the Angel . "" the pain when I feel your bone ? "" "" the what ? "" say the Angel . "" the pain . "" ""   ' pain’—you call it .",hg_wells
"no , I certainly do n’t like the pain . do you have much of this pain in the Land of Dreams ? "" "" a very fair share , "" say the Vicar . "" be it new to you ? "" "" quite , "" say the Angel . "" I do n’t like it . "" "" how curious ! "" say the Vicar , and bit at the end of a strip of linen to tie a knot . "" I think this bandaging must serve for the present , "" he say . "" I",hg_wells
"’ve study ambulance work before , but never the bandaging up of wing wound . be your pain any well ? "" "" it glow now instead of flash , "" say the Angel . "" I be afraid you will find it glow for some time , "" say the Vicar , still intent on the wound . the Angel give a shrug of the wing and turn round to look at the Vicar again . he have be try to keep an eye on the Vicar over his shoulder during all their interview . he look at he",hg_wells
"from top to toe with raise eyebrow and a grow smile on his beautiful soft - feature face . "" it seem so odd , "" he say with a sweet little laugh , "" to be talk to a man ! "" "" do you know , "" say the Vicar , "" now that I come to think of it , it be equally odd to I that I should be talk to an Angel . I be a somewhat matter - of - fact person . a Vicar have to be . angel I have always regard",hg_wells
"as — artistic conception — "" "" exactly what we think of man . "" "" but surely you have see so many man — "" "" never before today . in picture and book , time enough of course . but I have see several since the sunrise , solid real man , besides a horse or so — those unicorn thing you know , without horn — and quite a number of those grotesque knobby thing call ' cow . ' I be naturally a little frightened at so many mythical monster , and come to hide here",hg_wells
"until it be dark . I suppose it will be dark again presently like it be at first . Phew ! this pain of yours be poor fun . I hope I shall wake up directly . "" "" I do not understand quite , "" say the Vicar , knit his brow and tap his forehead with his flat hand . "" mythical monster ! "" the bad thing he have be call for year hitherto be a "" medieval anachronism "" ( by an advocate of Disestablishment ) . "" do I understand that you consider I as",hg_wells
"— as something in a dream ? "" "" of course , "" say the Angel smile . "" and this world about I , these rugged tree and spread frond — "" "" be all so very dreamlike , "" say the Angel . "" just exactly what one dream of — or artist imagine . "" "" you have artist then among the Angels ? "" "" all kind of artist , Angels with wonderful imagination , who invent man and cow and eagle and a thousand impossible creature . "" "" impossible creature ! "" say the",hg_wells
"Vicar . "" impossible creature , "" say the Angel . "" myth . "" "" but I ’m real ! "" say the Vicar . "" I assure you I ’m real . "" the Angel shrug his wing and wince and smile . "" I can always tell when I be dream , "" he say . "" you — dream , "" say the Vicar . he look round he . "" you dream ! "" he repeat . his mind work diffusely . he hold out his hand with all his finger move . "" I",hg_wells
"have it ! "" he say . "" I begin to see . "" a really brilliant idea be dawn upon his mind . he have not study mathematic at Cambridge for nothing , after all . "" tell I please . some animal of your world   … of the Real World , real animal you know . "" "" real animal ! "" say the Angel smile . "" why — there ’s Griffins and Dragons — and jabberwock — and Cherubim — and Sphinxes — and the Hippogriff — and mermaid — and satyr — and .",hg_wells
"  … "" "" thank you , "" say the Vicar as the Angel appear to be warm to his work ; "" thank you . that be quite enough . I begin to understand . "" he pause for a moment , his face purse up . "" yes   … I begin to see it . "" "" see what ? "" ask the Angel . "" the Griffins and Satyrs and so forth . it ’ as clear .   … "" "" I do not see they , "" say the Angel . "" no ,",hg_wells
"the whole point be they be not to be see in this world . but our man with imagination have tell we all about they , you know . and even I at time   … there be place in this village where you must simply take what they set before you , or give offence — I , I say , have see in my dream jabberwock , Bogle brute , Mandrakes .   … from our point of view , you know , they be Dream Creatures .   … "" "" Dream Creatures ! "" say the",hg_wells
"Angel . "" how singular ! this be a very curious dream . a kind of topsy - turvey one . you call man real and angel a myth . it almost make one think that in some odd way there must be two world as it be .   … "" "" at least two , "" say the Vicar . "" lie somewhere close together , and yet scarcely suspect .   … "" "" as near as page to page of a book . "" "" penetrate each other , live each its own life . this",hg_wells
"be really a delicious dream ! "" "" and never dream of each other . "" "" except when people go a - dreaming ! "" "" yes , "" say the Angel thoughtfully . "" it must be something of the sort . and that remind I . sometimes when I have be drop asleep , or drowse under the noontide sun , I have see strange corrugated face just like your , go by I , and tree with green leave upon they , and such queer uneven ground as this .   … it must be so",hg_wells
". I have fall into another world . "" "" sometimes , "" begin the Vicar , "" at bedtime , when I have be just on the edge of consciousness , I have see face as beautiful as your , and the strange dazzle vista of a wonderful scene , that flow past I , wing shape soar over it , and wonderful — sometimes terrible — form go to and fro . I have even hear sweet music too in my ear .   … it may be that as we withdraw our attention from the world of",hg_wells
"sense , the press world about we , as we pass into the twilight of repose , other world .   … just as we see the star , those other world in space , when the glare of day recede .   … and the artistic dreamer who see such thing most clearly .   … "" they look at one another . "" and in some incomprehensible manner I have fall into this world of yours out of my own ! "" say the Angel , "" into the world of my dream , grow real . """,hg_wells
"he look about he . "" into the world of my dream . "" "" it be confusing , "" say the Vicar . "" it almost make one think there may be ( ahem ) four dimension after all . in which case , of course , "" he go on hurriedly — for he love geometrical speculation and take a certain pride in his knowledge of them—“there may be any number of three - dimensional universe pack side by side , and all dimly dream of one another . there may be world upon world , universe upon",hg_wells
"universe . it ’ perfectly possible . there ’ nothing so incredible as the absolutely possible . but I wonder how you come to fall out of your world into mine .   … "" "" dear I ! "" say the Angel ; "" there ’ deer and a stag ! just as they draw they on the coat of arm . how grotesque it all seem ! can I really be awake ? "" he rub his knuckle into his eye . the half - dozen of dapple deer come in indian file obliquely through the tree and",hg_wells
"halt , watch . "" it ’ no dream — I be really a solid concrete Angel , in Dream Land , "" say the Angel . he laugh . the Vicar stand survey he . the Reverend gentleman be pull his mouth askew after a habit he have , and slowly stroke his chin . he be ask himself whether he too be not in the Land of Dreams . VII the Vicar and the Angel ( continue ) now in the land of the Angels , so the Vicar learn in the course of many conversation , there",hg_wells
"be neither pain nor trouble nor death , marry nor give in marriage , birth nor forget . only at time new thing begin . it be a land without hill or dale , a wonderfully level land , glitter with strange building , with incessant sunlight or full moon , and with incessant breeze blow through the aeolian tracery of the tree . it be Wonderland , with glitter sea hang in the sky , across which strange fleet go sailing , none know whither . there the flower glow in Heaven and the star shine about one ’s",hg_wells
"foot and the breath of life be a delight . the land go on forever — there be no solar system nor interstellar space such as there be in our universe — and the air go upward past the sun into the uttermost abyss of their sky . and there be nothing but Beauty there — all the beauty in our art be but feeble rendering of faint glimpse of that wonderful world , and our composer , our original composer , be those who hear , however faintly , the dust of melody that drive before its wind .",hg_wells
"and the Angels , and wonderful monster of bronze and marble and living fire , go to and fro therein . it be a land of law — for whatever be , be under the law — but its law all , in some strange way , differ from ours . their geometry be different because their space have a curve in it so that all their plane be cylinder ; and their law of gravitation be not accord to the law of inverse square , and there be four - and - twenty primary colour instead of only three",hg_wells
". Most of the fantastic thing of our science be commonplace there , and all our earthly science would seem to they the mad dreaming . there be no flower upon their plant , for instance , but jet of coloured fire . that , of course , will seem mere nonsense to you because you do not understand most of what the Angel tell the Vicar , indeed the Vicar could not realise , because his own experience , be only of this world of matter , war against his understanding . it be too strange to imagine .",hg_wells
"what have jolt these twin universe together so that the Angel have fall suddenly into Sidderford , neither the Angel nor the Vicar could tell . nor for the matter of that could the author of this story . the author be concern with the fact of the case , and have neither the desire nor the confidence to explain they . explanation be the fallacy of a scientific age . and the cardinal fact of the case be this , that out in Siddermorton Park , with the glory of some wonderful world where there be neither sorrow nor",hg_wells
"sighing , still cling to he , on the 4th of August 1895 , stand an Angel , bright and beautiful , talk to the Vicar of Siddermorton about the plurality of world . the author will swear to the Angel , if need be ; and there he draw the line . viii the Vicar and the Angel ( continue ) "" I have , "" say the Angel , "" a most unusual feeling — here . have have since sunrise . I do n’t remember ever have any feeling — here before . "" "" not pain",hg_wells
", I hope , "" say the Vicar . "" oh no ! it be quite different from that — a kind of vacuous feeling . "" "" the atmospheric pressure , perhaps , be a little different , "" the Vicar begin , feel his chin . "" and do you know , I have also the most curious sensation in my mouth — almost as if — it ’s so absurd!—as if I want to stuff thing into it . "" "" bless I ! "" say the Vicar . "" of course ! you ’re hungry !",hg_wells
""" "" hungry ! "" say the Angel . "" what ’s that ? "" "" do not you eat ? "" "" eat ! the word ’ quite new to I . "" "" put food into your mouth , you know . one have to here . you will soon learn . if you do n’t , you get thin and miserable , and suffer a great deal — pain , you know — and finally you die . "" "" die ! "" say the Angel . "" that ’s another strange word ! "" "" it",hg_wells
"’ not strange here . it mean leave off , you know , "" say the Vicar . "" we never leave off , "" say the Angel . "" you do not know what may happen to you in this world , "" say the Vicar , think he over . "" possibly if you be feel hungry , and can feel pain and have your wing break , you may even have to die before you get out of it again . at any rate you have well try eat . for my own part — ahem!—there be",hg_wells
"many more disagreeable thing . "" "" I suppose I have well eat , "" say the Angel . "" if it ’s not too difficult . I do n’t like this ' pain ' of your , and I do n’t like this ' hungry . ' if your ' die ' be anything like it , I would prefer to eat . what a very odd world this be ! "" "" to die , "" say the Vicar , "" be generally consider bad than either pain or hunger .   … it depend . "" """,hg_wells
"you must explain all that to I later , "" say the Angel . "" unless I wake up . at present , please show I how to eat . if you will . I feel a kind of urgency .   … "" "" pardon I , "" say the Vicar , and offer an elbow . "" if I may have the pleasure of entertain you . my house lie yonder — not a couple of mile from here . "" "" your House ! "" say the Angel a little puzzle ; but he take the Vicar",hg_wells
"’s arm affectionately , and the two , converse as they go , wade slowly through the luxuriant bracken , sun mottle under the tree , and on over the stile in the park paling , and so across the bee - swarm heather for a mile or more , down the hillside , home . you would have be charm at the couple could you have see they . the Angel , slight of figure , scarcely five foot high , and with a beautiful , almost effeminate face , such as an italian old Master might have paint",hg_wells
". indeed , there be one in the National Gallery ( Tobias and the Angel , by some artist unknown ) not at all unlike he so far as face and spirit go . he be robe simply in a purple - wrought saffron blouse , bare kneed and barefoote , with his wing ( break now , and a leaden grey ) fold behind he . the Vicar be a short , rather stout figure , rubicund , red - haired , clean - shaven , and with bright ruddy brown eye . he wear a piebald straw hat",hg_wells
"with a black ribbon , a very neat white tie , and a fine gold watch - chain . he be so greatly interested in his companion that it only occur to he when he be in sight of the vicarage that he have leave his gun lie just where he have drop it amongst the bracken . he be rejoice to hear that the pain of the bandaged wing fall rapidly in intensity . ix parenthesis on Angels let we be plain . the Angel of this story be the Angel of Art , not the Angel that one",hg_wells
"must be irreverent to touch — neither the Angel of religious feeling nor the Angel of popular belief . the last we all know . she be alone among the angelic host in be distinctly feminine : she wear a robe of immaculate , unmitigated white with sleeve , be fair , with long golden tress , and have eye of the blue of Heaven . just a pure woman she be , pure maiden or pure matron , in her robe de nuit , and with wing attach to her shoulder blade . her calling be domestic and sympathetic",hg_wells
", she watch over a cradle or assist a sister soul heavenward . often she bear a palm leaf , but one would not be surprised if one meet she carry a warming - pan softly to some poor chilly sinner . she it be who come down in a bevy to Marguerite in prison , in the amend last scene in Faust at the Lyceum , and the interesting and improve little child that be to die young , have vision of such angel in the novel of Mrs.   Henry Wood . this white womanliness with her indescribable",hg_wells
"charm of lavender - like holiness , her aroma of clean , methodical life , be , it would seem after all , a purely teutonic invention . latin think know she not ; the old master have none of she . she be of a piece with that gentle innocent ladylike school of art whereof the great triumph be "" a lump in one ’s throat , "" and where wit and passion , scorn and pomp , have no place . the white angel be make in Germany , in the land of blonde woman and the domestic",hg_wells
"sentiment . she come to we cool and worshipful , pure and tranquil , as silently soothing as the breadth and calmness of the starlit sky , which also be so unspeakably dear to the teutonic soul .   … we do her reverence . and to the angel of the Hebrews , those spirit of power and mystery , to Raphael , Zadkiel , and Michael , of whom only Watts have catch the shadow , of whom only Blake have see the splendour , to they too , do we do reverence . but this Angel the Vicar",hg_wells
"shot be , we say , no such angel at all , but the Angel of italian art , polychromatic and gay . he come from the land of beautiful dream and not from any holier place . at good he be a popish creature . Bear patiently , therefore , with his scattered remex , and be not hasty with your charge of irreverence before the story be read . X at the vicarage the Curate ’s wife and her two daughter and Mrs.   Jehoram be still play at tennis on the lawn behind the Vicar ’s study",hg_wells
", play keenly and talk in gasp about paper pattern for blouse . but the Vicar forgot and come in that way . they see the Vicar ’s hat above the rhododendron , and a bare curly head beside he . "" I must ask he about Susan Wiggin , "" say the Curate ’s wife . she be about to serve , and stand with a racket in one hand and a ball between the finger of the other . "" he really ought to have go to see she — be the Vicar . not George . I",hg_wells
"— ah ! "" for the two figure suddenly turn the corner and be visible . the Vicar , arm in arm with — you see , it come on the Curate ’s wife suddenly . the Angel ’s face be towards she she see nothing of the wing . only a face of unearthly beauty in a halo of chestnut hair , and a graceful figure clothe in a saffron garment that barely reach the knee . the thought of those knee flash upon the Vicar at once . he too be horrorstruck . so be the two girl",hg_wells
"and Mrs.   Jehoram . all horrorstruck . the Angel stare in astonishment at the horrorstruck group . you see , he have never see anyone horrorstruck before . "" Mis — ter Hilyer ! "" say the Curate ’s wife . "" this be too much ! "" she stand speechless for a moment . "" oh ! "" she sweep round upon the rigid girl . "" come ! "" the Vicar open and shut his voiceless mouth . the world hum and spin about he . there be a whirling of zephyr skirt , four impassioned face",hg_wells
"sweep towards the open door of the passage that run through the vicarage . he feel his position go with they . "" Mrs.   Mendham , "" say the Vicar , step forward . "" Mrs.   Mendham . you do not understand — "" "" oh ! "" they all say again . one , two , three , four skirt vanish in the doorway . the Vicar stagger half way across the lawn and stop , aghast . "" this come , "" he hear the Curate ’s wife say , out of the depth of the",hg_wells
"passage , "" of have an unmarried vicar—. "" the umbrella stand wobble . the front door of the vicarage slam like a minute gun . there be silence for a space . "" I might have think , "" he say . "" she be always so hasty . "" he put his hand to his chin — a habit with he . then turn his face to his companion . the Angel be evidently well breed . he be hold up Mrs.   Jehoram ’s sunshade — she have leave it on one of the cane chair —",hg_wells
"and examine it with extraordinary interest . he open it . "" what a curious little mechanism ! "" he say . "" what can it be for ? "" the Vicar do not answer . the angelic costume certainly be — the Vicar know it be a case for a french phrase — but he could scarcely remember it . he so rarely use French . it be not de trop , he know . anything but de trop . the Angel be de trop , but certainly not his costume . ah ! Sans culotte ! the Vicar",hg_wells
"examine his visitor critically — for the first time . "" he will be difficult to explain , "" he say to himself softly . the Angel stick the sunshade into the turf and go to smell the sweet briar . the sunshine fall upon his brown hair and give it almost the appearance of a halo . he prick his finger . "" Odd ! "" he say . "" pain again . "" "" yes , "" say the Vicar , think aloud . "" he ’ very beautiful and curious as he be . I should like",hg_wells
"he good so . but I be afraid I must . "" he approach the Angel with a nervous cough . XI at the vicarage ( continue ) "" those , "" say the Vicar , "" be lady . "" "" how grotesque , "" say the Angel , smile and smell the sweet briar . "" and such quaint shape ! "" "" possibly , "" say the Vicar . "" do you , ahem , notice how they behave ? "" "" they go away . Seemed , indeed , to run away . frightened ? I",hg_wells
", of course , be frighten at thing without wing . I hope — they be not frightened at my wing ? "" "" at your appearance generally , "" say the Vicar , glance involuntarily at the pink foot . "" dear I ! it never occur to I . I suppose I seem as odd to they as you do to I . "" he glance down . "" and my foot . you have hoof like a hippogriff . "" "" boot , "" correct the Vicar . "" boot , you call they ! but anyhow",hg_wells
", I be sorry I alarm — "" "" you see , "" say the Vicar , stroke his chin , "" our lady , ahem , have peculiar view — rather inartistic view — about , ahem , clothing . dress as you be , I be afraid , I be really afraid that — beautiful as your costume certainly be — you will find yourself somewhat , ahem , somewhat isolated in society . we have a little proverb , ' when in Rome , ahem , one must do as the Romans do . ' I can",hg_wells
"assure you that , assume you be desirous to , ahem , associate with we — during your involuntary stay — "" the Angel retreat a step or so as the Vicar come near and nearer in his attempt to be diplomatic and confidential . the beautiful face grow perplexed . "" I do n’t quite understand . why do you keep make these noise in your throat ? be it Die or eat , or any of those .   … "" "" as your host , "" interrupt the Vicar , and stop . "" as my host",hg_wells
", "" say the Angel . "" would you object , pende more permanent arrangement , to invest yourself , ahem , in a suit , an entirely new suit I may say , like this I have on ? "" "" oh ! "" say the Angel . he retreat so as to take in the Vicar from top to toe . "" wear clothe like your ! "" he say . he be puzzle but amuse . his eye grow round and bright , his mouth pucker at the corner . "" Delightful ! "" he say ,",hg_wells
"clap his hand together . "" what a mad , quaint dream this be ! where be they ? "" he catch at the neck of the saffron robe . "" indoor ! "" say the Vicar . "" this way . we will change — indoor ! "" xii at the vicarage ( continue ) so the Angel be invest in a pair of nether garment of the Vicar ’s , a shirt , rip down the back ( to accommodate the wing ) , sock , shoe — the Vicar ’s dress shoe — collar , tie ,",hg_wells
"and light overcoat . but put on the latter be painful , and remind the Vicar that the bandaging be temporary . "" I will ring for tea at once , and send Grummet down for Crump , "" say the Vicar . "" and dinner shall be early . "" while the Vicar shout his order on the landing rail , the Angel survey himself in the cheval glass with immense delight . if he be a stranger to pain , he be evidently no strange — thank perhaps to dream — to the pleasure of incongruity . they",hg_wells
"have tea in the drawing - room . the Angel sit on the music stool ( music stool because of his wing ) . at first he want to lie on the hearthrug . he look much less radiant in the Vicar ’s clothe , than he have do upon the moor when dress in saffron . his face shine still , the colour of his hair and cheek be strangely bright , and there be a superhuman light in his eye , but his wing under the overcoat give he the appearance of a hunchback . the garment ,",hg_wells
"indeed , make quite a terrestrial thing of he , the trouser be pucker transversely , and the shoe a size or so too large . he be charmingly affable and quite ignorant of the most elementary fact of civilization . eating come without much difficulty , and the Vicar have an entertaining time teach he how to take tea . "" what a mess it be ! what a dear grotesque ugly world you live in ! "" say the Angel . "" fancy stuff thing into your mouth ! we use our mouth just to talk and sing",hg_wells
"with . our world , you know , be almost incurably beautiful . we get so very little ugliness , that I find all this   … delightful . "" Mrs. the Angel shuffle about the room with his cup of tea in one hand , and the bread and butter in the other , and examine the Vicar ’s furniture . outside the french window , the lawn with its array of dahlia and sunflower glow in the warm sunlight , and Mrs.   Jehoram ’s sunshade stand thereon like a triangle of fire . he think the Vicar",hg_wells
"’s portrait over the mantel very curious indeed , could not understand what it be there for . "" you have yourself round , "" he say , apropos of the portrait , "" why want yourself flat ? "" and he be vastly amuse at the glass fire screen . he find the oak chair odd—“You’re not square , be you ? "" he say , when the Vicar explain their use . "" we never double ourselves up . we lie about on the asphodel when we want to rest . "" "" the chair , "" say",hg_wells
"the Vicar , "" to tell you the truth , have always puzzle I . it date , I think , from the day when the floor be cold and very dirty . I suppose we have keep up the habit . it ’s become a kind of instinct with we to sit on chair . anyhow , if I go to see one of my parishioner , and suddenly spread myself out on the floor — the natural way of it — I do not know what she would do . it would be all over the parish in",hg_wells
"no time . yet it seem the natural method of repose , to recline . the Greeks and Romans — "" "" what be this ? "" say the Angel abruptly . "" that ’ a stuff kingfisher . I kill it . "" "" kill it ! "" "" shot it , "" say the Vicar , "" with a gun . "" "" Shot ! as you do I ? "" "" I do not kill you , you see . fortunately . "" "" be kill making like that ? "" "" in a way . """,hg_wells
""" dear I ! and you want to make I like that — want to put glass eye in I and string I up in a glass case full of ugly green and brown stuff ? "" "" you see , "" begin the Vicar , "" I scarcely understand — "" "" be that ' die ' ? "" ask the Angel suddenly . "" that be dead ; it die . "" "" poor little thing . I must eat a lot . but you say you kill it . why ? "" "" you see , """,hg_wells
"say the Vicar , "" I take an interest in bird , and I ( ahem ) collect they . I want the speciman — "" the Angel stare at he for a moment with puzzled eye . "" a beautiful bird like that ! "" he say with a shiver . "" because the fancy take you . you want the speciman ! "" he think for a minute . "" do you often kill ? "" he ask the Vicar . xiii the Man of Science then Doctor Crump arrive . Grummet have meet he not a hundred",hg_wells
"yard from the vicarage gate . he be a large , rather heavy - look man , with a clean - shaven face and a double chin . he be dress in a grey morning coat ( he always affect grey ) , with a chequer black and white tie . "" what ’ the trouble ? "" he say , enter and stare without a shadow of surprise at the Angel ’s radiant face . "" this — ahem — gentleman , "" say the Vicar , "" or — ah — angel”—the Angel bowed—“is suffer from a gunshot",hg_wells
"wound . "" "" gunshot wound ! "" say Doctor Crump . "" in July ! may I look at it , Mr.—Angel , I think you say ? "" "" he will probably be able to assuage your pain , "" say the Vicar . "" let I assist you to remove your coat ? "" the Angel turn obediently . "" spinal curvature ? "" mutter Doctor Crump quite audibly , walk round behind the Angel . "" no ! abnormal growth . Hullo ! this be odd ! "" he clutch the left wing . "" curious",hg_wells
", "" he say . "" reduplication of the anterior limb — bifid coracoid . possible , of course , but I ’ve never see it before . "" the angel wince under his hand . "" Humerus . Radius and Ulna . all there . Congenital , of course . Humerus break . curious integumentary simulation of feather . dear I . almost avian . probably of considerable interest in comparative anatomy . I never did!—how do this gunshot happen , Mr.   Angel ? "" the Vicar be amazed at the Doctor ’s matter - of - fact",hg_wells
"manner . "" our friend , "" say the Angel , move his head at the Vicar . "" unhappily it be my doing , "" say the Vicar , step forward , explanatory . "" I mistook the gentleman — the Angel ( ahem)—for a large bird — "" "" mistook he for a large bird ! what next ? your eye want see to , "" say Doctor Crump . "" I ’ve tell you so before . "" he go on patting and feeling , keep time with a series of grunt and inarticulate muttering .  ",hg_wells
"… "" but this be really a very good bit of amateur bandaging , "" say he . "" I think I shall leave it . curious malformation this be ! do not you find it inconvenient , Mr.   Angel ? "" he suddenly walk round so as to look in the Angel ’s face . the Angel think he refer to the wound . "" it be rather , "" he say . "" if it be n’t for the bone I should say paint with iodine night and morning . nothing like iodine . you could paint",hg_wells
"your face flat with it . but the osseous outgrowth , the bone , you know , complicate thing . I could see they off , of course . it ’ not a thing one should have do in a hurry — "" "" do you mean my wing ? "" say the Angel in alarm . "" wing ! "" say the Doctor . "" Eigh ? call ’em wing ! yes — what else should I mean ? "" "" saw they off ! "" say the Angel . "" do not you think so ? it ’",hg_wells