ready to fall in love with anybody； but it was like remembering
a worship of some Babylonian princess in some previous existence。
At his next glimpse of her （and he caught himself awaiting it）
the purple and green chalk was dusted off； and she went by quickly
in her working clothes。
As for Mrs。 Duke； none who knew that matron could conceive her as
actively resisting this invasion that had turned her house upside down。
But among the most exact observers it was seriously believed that she
liked it。 For she was one of those women who at bottom regard all
men as equally mad； wild animals of some utterly separate species。
And it is doubtful if she really saw anything more eccentric or
inexplicable in Smith's chimney…pot picnics or crimson sunflowers
than she had in the chemicals of Inglewood or the sardonic speeches
of Moon。 Courtesy； on the other hand； is a thing that anybody
can understand； and Smith's manners were as courteous as they
were unconventional。 She said he was 〃a real gentleman；〃 by which she
simply meant a kind…hearted man； which is a very different thing。
She would sit at the head of the table with fat； folded hands and a fat；
folded smile for hours and hours； while every one else was talking at once。
At least； the only other exception was Rosamund's companion；
Mary Gray； whose silence was of a much more eager sort。 Though she
never spoke she always looked as if she might speak any minute。
Perhaps this is the very definition of a companion。 Innocent Smith
seemed to throw himself； as into other adventures； into the adventure
of making her talk。 He never succeeded； yet he was never snubbed；
if he achieved anything； it was only to draw attention to this quiet figure；
and to turn her； by ever so little； from a modesty to a mystery。
But if she was a riddle； every one recognized that she was a fresh
and unspoilt riddle； like the riddle of the sky and the woods in spring。
Indeed； though she was rather older than the other two girls；
she had an early morning ardour； a fresh earnestness of youth；
which Rosamund seemed to have lost in the mere spending of money；
and Diana in the mere guarding of it。 Smith looked at her again and again。
Her eyes and mouth were set in her face the wrong waywhich was really
the right way。 She had the knack of saying everything with her face：
her silence was a sort of steady applause。
But among the hilarious experiments of that holiday
（which seemed more like a week's holiday than a day's）
one experiment towers supreme； not because it was any sillier
or more successful than the others； but because out of this
particular folly flowed all of the odd events that were to follow。
All the other practical jokes exploded of themselves； and left vacancy；
all the other fictions returned upon themselves； and were finished
like a song。 But the string of solid and startling events
which were to include a hansom cab； a detective； a pistol；
and a marriage licencewere all made primarily possible
by the joke about the High Court of Beacon。
It had originated； not with Innocent Smith； but with Michael Moon。 He was
in a strange glow and pressure of spirits； and talked incessantly；
yet he had never been more sarcastic； and even inhuman。
He used his old useless knowledge as a barrister to talk
entertainingly of a tribunal that was a parody on the pompous
anomalies of English law。 The High Court of Beacon； he declared；
was a splendid example of our free and sensible constitution。
It had been founded by King John in defiance of the Magna Carta；
and now held absolute power over windmills； wine and spirit licences；
ladies traveling in Turkey； revision of sentences for dog…stealing
and parricide； as well as anything whatever that happened in the town of
Market Bosworth。 The whole hundred and nine seneschals of the High Court
of Beacon met once in every four centuries； but in the intervals
（as Mr。 Moon explained） the whole powers of the institution were vested
in Mrs。 Duke。 Tossed about among the rest of the company； however；
the High Court did not retain its historical and legal seriousness；
but was used somewhat unscrupulously in a riot of domestic detail。
If somebody spilt the Worcester Sauce on the tablecloth； he was quite
sure it was a rite without which the sittings and findings of the Court
would be invalid； or if somebody wanted a window to remain shut；
he would suddenly remember that none but the third son of the lord
of the manor of Penge had the right to open it。 They even went
to the length of making arrests and conducting criminal inquiries。
The proposed trial of Moses Gould for patriotism was rather
above the heads of the company； especially of the criminal；
but the trial of Inglewood on a charge of photographic libel；
and his triumphant acquittal upon a plea of insanity； were admitted
to be in the best tradition of the Court。
But when Smith was in wild spirits he grew more and more serious； not more and
more flippant like Michael Moon。 This proposal of a private court of justice；
which Moon had thrown off with the detachment of a political humourist；
Smith really caught hold of with the eagerness of an abstract philosopher。
It was by far the best thing they could do； he declared； to claim sovereign
powers even for the individual household。
〃You believe in Home Rule for Ireland； I believe in Home Rule for homes；〃
he cried eagerly to Michael。 〃It would be better if every father
COULD kill his son； as with the old Romans； it would be better；
because nobody would be killed。 Let's issue a Declaration
of Independence from Beacon House。 We could grow enough greens
in that garden to support us； and when the tax…collector comes let's
tell him we're self…supporting； and play on him with the hose。
。。。Well； perhaps； as you say； we couldn't very well have a hose；
as that comes from the main； but we could sink a well in this chalk；
and a lot could be done with water…jugs。。。 Let this really be
Beacon House。 Let's light a bonfire of independence on the roof；
and see house after house answering it across the valley of
the Thames！ Let us begin the League of the Free Families！ Away with
Local Government！ A fig for Local Patriotism！ Let every house
be a sovereign state as this is； and judge its own children by its
own law； as we do by the Court of Beacon。 Let us cut the painter；
and begin to be happy together； as if we were on a desert island。〃
〃I know that desert island；〃 said Michael Moon； 〃it only
exists in the ‘Swiss Family Robinson。' A man feels a strange
desire for some sort of vegetable milk； and crash comes down
some unexpected cocoa…nut from some undiscovered monkey。
A literary man feels inclined to pen a sonnet； and at once
an officious porcupine rushes out of a thicket and shoots out
one of his quills。〃
〃Don't you say a word against the ‘Swiss Family Robinson；'〃
cried Innocent with great warmth。 〃It mayn't be
exact science； but it's dead accurate philosophy。
When you're really shipwrecked； you do really find what you want。
When you're really on a desert island； you never find it a desert。
If we were really besieged in this garden； we'd find a hundred
English birds and English berries that we never knew were here。
If we were snowed up in this room； we'd be the better for reading
scores of books in that bookcase that we don't even know are there；
we'd have talks with each other； good； terrible talks； that we shall
go to the grave without guessing； we'd find materials for everything
christening； marriage； or funeral； yes； even for a coronation
if we didn't decide to be a republic。〃
〃A coronation on ‘Swiss Family' lines； I suppose；〃 said Michael； laughing。
〃Oh； I know you would find everything in that atmosphere。 If we wanted
such a simple thing； for instance； as a Coronation Canopy； we should
walk down beyond the geraniums and find the Canopy Tree in full bloom。
If we wanted such a trifle as a crown of gold； why； we should be
digging up dandelions； and we should find a gold mine under the lawn。
And when we wanted oil for the ceremony； why I suppose a great storm
would wash everything on shore； and we should find there was a Whale
on the premises。〃
〃And so there IS a whale on the premises for all you know；〃
asseverated Smith； striking the table with passion。
〃I bet you've never examined the premises！ I bet you've
never been round at the back as I was this morning
for I found the very thing you say could only grow on a tree。
There's an old sort of square tent up against the dustbin；
it's got three holes in the canvas； and a pole's broken；
so it's not much good as a tent； but as a Canopy〃 And his
voice quite failed him to express its shining adequacy；
then he went on with controversial eagerness： 〃You see I
take every challenge as you make it。 I believe every blessed
thing you say couldn't be here has been here all the time。
You say you want a whale washed up for oil。 Why； there's oil
in that cruet…stand at your elbow； and I don't believe
anybody has touched it or thought of it for years。
And as for your gold crown； we're none of us wealthy here；
but we could collect enough ten…shilling bits from our own
pockets to string round a man's head for h