pedestal of the Sphinx; the
stone base would soon be raised there, and then his beasts would be
poised.

"Let's walk over to the Mall, children."

Along the walk the small goat carriages were drawn up with their teams;
little landaus, fairy-like for small folk to drive in. Fairfax stood
before the cavity in the earth and the scaffolding left by the workmen.
He was conscious of his little friends at length by the dragging on his
arms of their too affectionate weight. "Cousin Antony."

Fairfax waved to the vacant spot. "Oh, Egypt, Egypt," he began, in his
"recitation voice," a voice that promised treats at home, but that
palled in the sunny open, with goat rides in the fore-ground.

"Out of the soft, smooth coral of thy sands,
Out of thy Nilus tide, out of thy heart,
Such dreams have come, such mighty splendours----"

"Bella, do you see that harmonious square?"

"Yes," she answered casually, with a lack lustre. "And do you see the
_goats_?"

"Goats, Bella! I see a pedestal some ten feet high, and on it at its
four corners, before they poise the Sphinx--what do you think I see,
Bella?"

"... Cousin Antony, that boy there has the _sweetest goats_. They're
_almost_ clean! Too dear for anything! With such cunning noses!"

He dropped his arm and put his hand on the little girl's shoulder and
turned her round.

"I'm disappointed in you for the first time, honey," he said.

"Oh, Cousin _Antony_."

"Little cousin, this is where my creatures, my beautiful bronze
creatures, are to be eternally set--there, there before your eyes." He
pointed to the blue May air.

"Cousin Antony," said Gardiner's slow voice, "the only thing I'm not too
tired to do is to wide in a goat carwage."

Fairfax lifted the little boy in his arms. "If I lift you, Gardiner,
like this, high in my arms, you could just about see the top of the
pedestal. Wait till it's unveiled, my hearties! Wait--wait!"

He put Gardiner down with a laugh and a happy sigh, and then he saw the
goats.

"Do you want a ride, children?"

"_Did_ they!"

He ran his hands through the pockets that had been wantonly emptied.

"Not a picayune, honey. Your poor old cousin is dead broke."

"Then," said Bella, practically, "let's go right away from here, Cousin
Antony. I can't bear to look at those goats another minute. It hurts."

Fairfax regarded her thoughtfully. "Bella the Desirous," he murmured.
"What are you going to be when you grow up, little