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every time the body succeeds in struggling out again； you are aware by the
thud upon the floor。 After a time the struggle wanes； or maybe the bed
collapses； and you drift back into sleep。 But the next moment； or what
seems to be the next moment； you again open your eyes under the
consciousness of a presence。 The door is being held ajar； and four
solemn faces； piled one on top of the other； are peering at you； as though
you were some natural curiosity kept in this particular room。 Seeing you
awake； the top face； walking calmly over the other three； comes in and sits
on the bed in a friendly attitude。
〃Oh！〃 it says； 〃we didn't know you were awake。 I've been awake
some time。〃
〃So I gather；〃 you reply； shortly。
〃Pa doesn't like us to get up too early；〃 it continues。 〃He says
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everybody else in the house is liable to be disturbed if we get up。 So； of
course； we mustn't。〃
The tone is that of gentle resignation。 It is instinct with the spirit of
virtuous pride； arising from the consciousness of self… sacrifice。
〃Don't you call this being up？〃 you suggest。
〃Oh； no； we're not really up； you know； because we're not properly
dressed。〃 The fact is self…evident。 〃Pa's always very tired in the
morning；〃 the voice continues； 〃of course； that's because he works hard all
day。 Are you ever tired in the morning？〃
At this point he turns and notices； for the first time； that the three other
children have also entered； and are sitting in a semi… circle on the floor。
From their attitude it is clear they have mistaken the whole thing for one
of the slower forms of entertainment； some comic lecture or conjuring
exhibition； and are waiting patiently for you to get out of bed and do
something。 It shocks him； the idea of their being in the guest's
bedchamber。 He peremptorily orders them out。 They do not answer
him； they do not argue； in dead silence； and with one accord they fall upon
him。 All you can see from the bed is a confused tangle of waving arms and
legs； suggestive of an intoxicated octopus trying to find bottom。 Not a
word is spoken； that seems to be the etiquette of the thing。 If you are
sleeping in your pyjamas； you spring from the bed； and only add to the
confusion； if you are wearing a less showy garment； you stop where you
are and shout commands； which are utterly unheeded。 The simplest plan
is to leave it to the eldest boy。 He does get them out after a while； and
closes the door upon them。 It re…opens immediately； and one； generally
Muriel； is shot back into the room。 She enters as from a catapult。 She
is handicapped by having long hair； which can be used as a convenient
handle。 Evidently aware of this natural disadvantage； she clutches it
herself tightly in one hand； and punches with the other。 He opens the
door again； and cleverly uses her as a battering…ram against the wall of
those without。 You can hear the dull crash as her head enters among
them； and scatters them。 When the victory is complete； he comes back
and resumes his seat on the bed。 There is no bitterness about him； he has
forgotten the whole incident。 〃I like the morning；〃 he says； 〃don't you？〃
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〃Some mornings；〃 you agree； 〃are all right； others are not so peaceful。〃
He takes no notice of your exception； a far…away look steals over his
somewhat ethereal face。
〃I should like to die in the morning；〃 he says； 〃everything is so
beautiful then。〃
〃Well；〃 you answer； 〃perhaps you will； if your father ever invites an
irritable man to come and sleep here； and doesn't warn him beforehand。〃
He descends from his contemplative mood； and becomes himself
again。
〃It's jolly in the garden；〃 he suggests； 〃you wouldn't like to get up and
have a game of cricket； would you？〃
It was not the idea with which you went to bed； but now； as things
have turned out； it seems as good a plan as lying there hopelessly awake；
and you agree。
You learn； later in the day； that the explanation of the proceeding is
that you； unable to sleep； woke up early in the morning； and thought you
would like a game of cricket。 The children； taught to be ever courteous
to guests； felt it their duty to humour you。 Mrs。 Harris remarks at breakfast
that at least you might have seen to it that the children were properly
dressed before you took them out； while Harris points out to you；
pathetically； how； by your one morning's example and encouragement； you
have undone his labour of months。
On this Wednesday morning； George； it seems； clamoured to get up at
a quarter…past five； and persuaded them to let him teach them cycling
tricks round the cucumber frames on Harris's new wheel。 Even Mrs。 Harris；
however； did not blame George on this occasion； she felt intuitively the
idea could not have been entirely his。
It is not that the Harris children have the faintest notion of avoiding
blame at the expense of a friend and comrade。 One and all they are
honesty itself in accepting responsibility for their own misdeeds。 It
simply is； that is how the thing presents itself to their understanding。
When you explain to them that you had no original intention of getting up
at five o'clock in the morning to play cricket on the croquet lawn； or to
mimic the history of the early Church by shooting with a cross…bow at
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dolls tied to a tree； that as a matter of fact； left to your own initiative； you
would have slept peacefully till roused in Christian fashion with a cup of
tea at eight； they are firstly astonished； secondly apologetic； and thirdly
sincerely contrite。 In the present instance； waiving