THE POND 173 



than any gold carp whatsoever ; l and I added that 

 we might get plenty more goldfish for twopence 

 each, whereas another kingfisher could hardly be 

 hoped for. She answered that to buy more gold- 

 fish might be all right from my point of view, but 

 would not prove the least comfort to those that the 

 bird had eaten, and very likely not much to those 

 he had left. This, in its small way, was true ; but I 

 dwelt on the laws of hospitality, explained that the 

 kingfisher must live, and also made it clear that life 

 for him inevitably meant death for something else. 

 In reply she argued that I had never asked the king- 

 fisher, that he came without an invitation, and that I 

 owed no obligation to anybody who broke this first 

 and simple law of society. To come and stop with 

 people unasked struck my daughter as the unpardon- 

 able sin. Indeed, she has not forgiven the kingfisher 

 unto this day. At the end of his fortnight he 

 went as he had come, sans ceremony. I hoped 

 when winter returned that he might pay me a second 

 visit, but he did not do so. Probably, when the 

 novelty has worn off, goldfish are a poor substitute 

 for trout. 



As to the pond he honoured, it lies in a wide 

 semicircle and contains water-lilies white, rose, 

 carmine, pink, and cream colour each with a 

 wonderful jewel of wrought gold in her heart. The 

 space admits of a small selection only, and where 



1 Gold carp. This is open to dispute. The Japanese fancy carps are 

 as dainty and exquisite in their colours and fairy-like shapes as anything 

 to be seen in Nature. They are, however, exceedingly tender. 



