THE SIX OF SPADES. 49 



the operation wiis attended -with some difficulty; 

 there were buttons on the floor, I remember ; and the 

 Judge's cap was considerably rumpled), imprisoned, 

 " cribbed, confined," I dreamed a memorable dream. 

 I was in a garden, and a sweet little fairy invited me 

 to climb the magic Bean-stalk. Glorious music from 

 the silver horns of Elfland sounded softly around us 

 as we reached the summit, and as we wandered 

 among the most beautiful flowers and the most 

 delicious-fruits. No Dardners marred the prospect ; 

 and the fairy pressed me to refresh myself, with an 

 earnestness which I was unwilling to offend. I was 

 regretting, over my fourteenth peach, the lamentable 

 escape of juice, which is so inevitably connected with 

 the outdoor fruition of this fruit, and was meditating 

 a transfer of my attentions in the direction of some 

 white nectarines, when all at once the sunlight faded, 

 and the music was drowned by a thunderous bellow- 

 ing which shook the "Royal Georges" from their 

 trees. A giant's hand was laid upon my throat ; and 

 I awoke to see Nurse at my cribside, standing before 

 me, as Queen Eleanor before Fair Rosamond, with a 

 cup in one hand (rhubarb and magnesia), and a 

 dagger in the other to wit, a dry old finger-biscuit, 

 which I was graciously privileged " to take after." 



You feel for me, reader, don't you ? I make no 

 attempt, you will observe, to disparage the seasonable 

 use of physic. I know that Nemesis is the sworn 

 friend of Pomona, and that he who robs the orchard 

 feels justly her avenging gripe. I could forgive 

 Dardner for catching me at the gooseberries, for 

 pmiling many a time, as I have no doubt he did, 

 5 



