THE CHANGE 219 



remembered the field before it became part 

 of the suburb : that must have been many 

 years ago. 



" Sweetest of all things is wild-flower air," 

 I quoted from old memory. 



" Ah ! You have not forgotten ! " 



With a wild poignancy he spoke. 



" I am remembering now." 



He faced me so abruptly that the hair 

 flung over his forehead. Then he spoke 

 again, and my heart was heavy. 



" In the early morning the birds sang 

 sweetly, and the air was pure. I used to 

 creep down the stairs, holding my boots 

 in my hand. The third step from the 

 bottom creaked and had to be avoided. 

 The cat asleep on its rug in the kitchen 

 stirred and stretched and yawned as I 

 opened the door, then curled and slept 

 again. It's funny how I remember things 

 like that so vividly. When my boots were 

 laced, I used to tiptoe to the door, draw 

 the bolt and turn that creaking lock with 



