Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rudyard Kipling
‘Oh, how chee—clever of you. What did he say?’ Una cried. been something unladylike and indelicate. But that wasn’t my
‘He said, “Not much change there, Bucksteed. Ged, I de- triumph. Dad asked me to play on the harp. Between just
served it,” and he toasted me again. They talked about the you and me, child, I had been practising a new song from
French and what a shame it was that Sir Arthur only com- London—I don’t always live in trees—for weeks; and I gave
manded a brigade at Hastings, and he told Dad of a battle in it them for a surprise.’
India at a place called Assaye. Dad said it was a terrible fight, ‘What was it?’said Una. ‘Sing it.’
but Sir Arthur described it as though it had been a whist- ‘“I have given my heart to a flower.” Not very difficult finparty—I
suppose because a lady was present.’
gering, but r-r-ravishing sentiment.’
‘Of course you were the lady. I wish I’d seen you,’said Una. Philadelphia coughed and cleared her throat.
‘I wish you had, child. I had such a triumph after dinner. ‘I’ve a deep voice for my age and size,’ she explained. ‘Con-
Rene and Doctor Break came in. They had quite made up tralto, you know, but it ought to be stronger,’ and she began,
their quarrel, and they told me they had the highest esteem
for each other, and I laughed and said, “I heard every word of
her face all dark against the last of the soft pink sunset:
it up in the tree.” You never saw two men so frightened in ‘I have given my heart to a flower,
your life, and when I said, “What was ‘the subject of your Though I know it is fading away,
remarks,’ Rene?” neither of them knew where to look. Oh, I Though I know it will live but an hour
quizzed them unmercifully. They’d seen me jump off the pigsty
roof, remember.’
And leave me to mourn its decay!
‘But what was the subject of their remarks?’ said Una. ‘Isn’t that touchingly sweet? Then the last verse—I wish I had
‘Oh, Doctor Break said it was a professional matter, so the my harp, dear—goes as low as my register will reach.’She drew
laugh was turned on me. I was horribly afraid it might have in her chin, and took a deep breath:
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