Aaron's rod

198
AARON'S ROD
cloak. I had it back. And that has happened to me almost
every time. I almost always
always get my things back. And I
feel that something looks after me, do you know:
almost takes care of me."
"But do you mean when you lose things or in your life?"
"I mean when I lose things or when I want to get something
I want I am very nearly always successful. And
I always feel there is some sort of higher power which does
it for me."
"Finds your cloak for you."
"Yes. Wasn't it extraordinary? I felt when I saw my
cloak in Scotland Yard: There, I knew I should recover you.
And I always feel, as I say, that there is some higher power
which helps me. Do you feel the same?"
"No, not that way, worse luck. I lost a batch of music
a month ago which didn't belong to me and which I couldn't
replace. But I never could recover it: though I'm sure nobody
wanted it."
"How very unfortunate! Whereas my fur cloak was just
the thing that gets stolen most."
"I wished some power would trace my music: but appar-
ently we aren't all gifted alike with guardian angels."
"Apparently not. And that is how I regard it: almost as
a gift, you know, that my fairy godmother gave me in my
cradle.".
"For always recovering your property?"
"Yes and succeeding in my undertakings."
"I'm afraid I had no fairy godmother."
"Well I think I had. And very glad I am of it."
"Why, yes," said Aaron, looking at his hostess.
So the dinner sailed merrily on.
"But does Beethoven make you feel," said Aaron as an
afterthought, "in the same way that you will always find
the things you have lost?"
"Yes he makes me feel the same faith: that what I lose
will be returned to me. Just as I found my cloak. And that
if I enter into an undertaking, it will be successful."
"And your life has been always successful?"