ThepistolwastheoutcomeofthatsearchItcouldonlybeusedonthemuddiestforeshoreofthebeach，farawayfromthebathing-machinesandpierheads，belowthegrassyslopesofFortKeelingThetideranoutnearlytwomilesonthatcoast，andthemany-colouredmud-banks，touchedbythesun，sentupalamentablesmellofdeadweedItwaslateintheafternoonwhenDickandMaisiearrivedontheirground，Amommatrottingpatientlybehindthem-
　　’Mf！’saidMaisie，sniffingtheair’Iwonderwhatmakestheseasosmelly？Idon’tlikeit！’
　　’Youneverlikeanythingthatisn’tmadejustforyou，’saidDickbluntly’Givemethecartridges，andI’lltryfirstshotHowfardoesoneoftheselittlerevolverscarry？’
　　’Oh，halfamile，’saidMaisie，promptly’AtleastitmakesanawfulnoiseBecarefulwiththecartridges；Idon’tlikethosejaggedstick-upthingsontherimDick，dobecareful。’
　　’AllrightIknowhowtoloadI’llfireatthebreakwateroutthere。’
　　Hefired，andAmommaranawaybleatingThebulletthrewupaspurtofmudtotherightofthewood-wreathedpiles-
　　’ThrowshighandtotherightYoutry，MaisieMind，it’sloadedallround。’
　　Maisietookthepistolandsteppeddelicatelytothevergeofthemud，herhandfirmlyclosedonthebutt，hermouthandlefteyescrewedup-
　　DicksatdownonatuftofbankandlaughedAmommareturnedverycautiouslyHewasaccustomedtostrangeexperiencesinhisafternoonwalks，and，findingthecartridge-boxunguarded，madeinvestigationswithhisnoseMaisiefired，butcouldnotseewherethebulletwent-
　　’Ithinkithitthepost，’shesaid，shadinghereyesandlookingoutacrossthesaillesssea-
　　’IknowithasgoneouttotheMarazionBell-buoy，’saidDick，withachuckle’Firelowandtotheleft；thenperhapsyou’llgetitOh，lookatAmomma！——he’seatingthecartridges！’
　　Maisieturned，therevolverinherhand，justintimetoseeAmommascamperingawayfromthepebblesDickthrewafterhimNothingissacredtoabilly-goatBeingwellfedandtheadoredofhismistress，Amommahadnaturallyswallowedtwoloadedpin-firecartridgesMaisiehurrieduptoassureherselfthatDickhadnotmiscountedthetale-
　　’Yes，he’seatentwo。’
　　’Horridlittlebeast！Thenthey’lljoggleaboutinsidehimandblowup，andservehimrightOh，Dick！haveIkilledyou？’
　　RevolversaretrickythingsforyounghandstodealwithMaisiecouldnotexplainhowithadhappened，butaveilofreekingsmokeseparatedherfromDick，andshewasquitecertainthatthepistolhadgoneoffinhisfaceThensheheardhimsputter，anddroppedonherkneesbesidehim，crying，’Dick，youaren’thurt，areyou？Ididn’tmeanit。’
　　’Ofcourseyoudidn’t，saidDick，comingoutofthesmokeandwipinghischeek’ButyounearlyblindedmeThatpowderstuffstingsawfully。’A
　　neatlittlesplashofgrayledonastoneshowedwherethebullethadgoneMaisiebegantowhimper-
　　’Don’t，’saidDick，jumpingtohisfeetandshakinghimself’I’mnotabithurt。’
　　’No，butImighthavekilledyou，’protestedMaisie，thecornersofhermouthdrooping’WhatshouldIhavedonethen？’
　　’GonehomeandtoldMrsJennett。’Dickgrinnedatthethought；
　　then，softening，’Pleasedon’tworryaboutitBesides，wearewastingtime-
　　We’vegottogetbacktoteaI’lltaketherevolverforabit。’
　　Maisiewouldhaveweptontheleastencouragement，butDick’sindifference，albeithishandwasshakingashepickedupthepistol，restrainedherShelaypantingonthebeachwhileDickmethodicallybombardedthebreakwater’Gotitatlast！’heexclaimed，asalockofweedflewfromthewood-
　　’Letmetry，’saidMaisie，imperiously’I’mallrightnow。’
　　Theyfiredinturnstillthericketylittlerevolvernearlyshookitselftopieces，andAmommatheoutcast——becausehemightblowupatanymoment——browsedinthebackgroundandwonderedwhystoneswerethrownathimThentheyfoundabalkoftimberfloatinginapoolwhichwascommandedbytheseawardslopeofFortKeeling，andtheysatdowntogetherbeforethisnewtarget-
　　’Nextholidays，’saidDick，asthenowthoroughlyfouledrevolverkickedwildlyinhishand，’we’llgetanotherpistol，——centralfire，——thatwillcarryfarther。’
　　’Therewon’tbanynextholidaysforme，’saidMaisie’I’mgoingaway。’
　　’Whereto？’
　　’Idon’tknowMylawyershavewrittentoMrsJennett，andI’vegottobeeducatedsomewhere，——inFrance，perhaps，——Idon’tknowwhere；
　　butI
　　shallbegladtogoaway。’
　　’Ishan’tlikeitabitIsupposeIshallbeleftLookhere，Maisie，isitreallytrueyou’regoing？ThentheseholidayswillbethelastI
　　shallseeanythingofyou；andIgobacktoschoolnextweekI
　　wish——’
　　TheyoungbloodturnedhischeeksscarletMaisiewaspickinggrass-tuftsandthrowingthemdowntheslopeatayellowsea-poppynoddingallbyitselftotheillimitablelevelsofthemud-flatsandthemilk-whiteseabeyond-
　　’Iwish，’shesaid，afterapause，’thatIcouldseeyouagainsometime-
　　Youwishthat，too？’
　　’Yes，butitwouldhavebeenbetterif——if——youhad——shotstraightoverthere——downbythebreakwater。’
　　MaisielookedwithlargeeyesforamomentAndthiswastheboywhoonlytendaysbeforehaddecoratedAmomma’shornswithcut-paperham-frillsandturnedhimout，abeardedderision，amongthepublicways！Thenshedroppedhereyes：thiswasnottheboy-
　　’Don’tbestupid，’shesaidreprovingly，andwithswiftinstinctattackedtheside-issue’Howselfishyouare！JustthinkwhatI
　　shouldhavefeltifthathorridthinghadkilledyou！I’mquitemiserableenoughalready。’
　　’Why？Becauseyou’regoingawayfromMrsJennett？’
　　’No。’
　　’Fromme，then？’
　　NoanswerforalongtimeDickdarednotlookatherHefelt，thoughhedidnotknow，allthatthepastfouryearshadbeentohim，andthisthemoreacutelysincehehadnoknowledgetoputhisfeelingsinwords-
　　’Idon’tknow，’shesaid’Isupposeitis。’
　　’Maisie，youmustknowI’mnotsupposing。’
　　’Let’sgohome，’saidMaisie，weakly-
　　ButDickwasnotmindedtoretreat-
　　’Ican’tsaythings，’hepleaded，’andI’mawfullysorryforteasingyouaboutAmommatheotherdayIt’salldifferentnow，Maisie，can’tyousee？Andyoumighthavetoldmethatyouweregoing，insteadofleavingmetofindout。’
　　’Youdidn’tIdidtellOh，Dick，what’stheuseofworrying？’
　　’Thereisn’tany；butwe’vebeentogetheryearsandyears，andI
　　didn’tknowhowmuchIcared。’
　　’Idon’tbelieveyoueverdidcare。’
　　’No，Ididn’t；butIdo，——Icareawfullynow，Maisie，’hegulped，——’Maisie，darling，sayyoucaretoo，please。’
　　’Ido，indeedIdo；butitwon’tbeanyuse。’
　　’Why？’
　　’BecauseIamgoingaway。’
　　’Yes，butifyoupromisebeforeyougoOnlysay——willyou？’A
　　second’darling’cametohislipsmoreeasilythanthefirstTherewerefewendearmentsinDick’shomeorschoollife；hehadtofindthembyinstinctDickcaughtthelittlehandblackenedwiththeescapedgasoftherevolver-
　　’Ipromise，’shesaidsolemnly；’butifIcarethereisnoneedforpromising。’
　　’Anddoyoucare？’Forthefirsttimeinthepastfewminutestheireyesmetandspokeforthemwhohadnoskillinspeech-
　　’Oh，Dick，don’t！Pleasedon’t！Itwasallrightwhenwesaidgood-morning；butnowit’salldifferent！’Amommalookedonfromafar-
　　Hehadseenhispropertyquarrelfrequently，buthehadneverseenkissesexchangedbeforeTheyellowsea-poppywaswiser，andnoddeditsheadapprovinglyConsideredasakiss，thatwasafailure，butsinceitwasthefirst，otherthanthosedemandedbyduty，inalltheworldthateitherhadevergivenortaken，itopenedtothemnewworlds，andeveryoneofthemglorious，sothattheywereliftedabovetheconsiderationofanyworldsatall，especiallythoseinwhichteaisnecessary，andsatstill，holdingeachother’shandsandsayingnotaword-
　　’Youcan’tforgetnow，’saidDick，atlastTherewasthatonhischeekthatstungmorethangunpowder-
　　’Ishouldn’thaveforgottenanyhow，’saidMaisie，andtheylookedateachotherandsawthateachwaschangedfromthecompanionofanhouragotoawonderandamysterytheycouldnotunderstandThesunbegantoset，andanight-windthrashedalongthebentsoftheforeshore-
　　’Weshallbeawfullylatefortea，’saidMaisie’Let’sgohome。’
　　’Let’susetherestofthecartridgesfirst，’saidDick；andhehelpedMaisiedowntheslopeoftheforttothesea，——adescentthatshewasquitecapableofcoveringatfullspeedEquallygravelyMaisietookthegrimyhandDickbentforwardclumsily；Maisiedrewthehandaway，andDickblushed-
　　’It’sverypretty，’hesaid-
　　’Pooh！’saidMaisie，withalittlelaughofgratifiedvanityShestoodclosetoDickasheloadedtherevolverforthelasttimeandfiredovertheseawithavaguenotionatthebackofhisheadthathewasprotectingMaisiefromalltheevilsintheworldApuddlefaracrossthemudcaughtthelastraysofthesunandturnedintoawrathfulreddiscThelightheldDick’sattentionforamoment，andasheraisedhisrevolvertherefelluponhimarenewedsenseofthemiraculous，inthathewasstandingbyMaisiewhohadpromisedtocareforhimforanindefinitelengthoftimetillsuchdateas——Agustofthegrowingwinddrovethegirl’slongblackhairacrosshisfaceasshestoodwithherhandonhisshouldercallingAmomma’alittlebeast，’andforamomenthewasinthedark，——adarknessthatstungThebulletwentsingingouttotheemptysea-
　　’Spoiltmyaim，’saidhe，shakinghishead’Therearen’tanymorecartridges；weshallhavetorunhome。’ButtheydidnotrunTheywalkedveryslowly，arminarmAnditwasamatterofindifferencetothemwhethertheneglectedAmommawithtwopin-firecartridgesinhisinsideblewuportrottedbesidethem；fortheyhadcomeintoagoldenheritageandweredisposingofitwithallthewisdomofalltheiryears-
　　’AndIshallbe——’quothDick，valiantlyThenhecheckedhimself：
　　’I
　　don’tknowwhatIshallbeIdon’tseemtobeabletopassanyexams，butIcanmakeawfulcaricaturesofthemastersHo！Ho！’
　　’Beanartist，then，’saidMaisie’You’realwayslaughingatmytryingtodraw；anditwilldoyougood。’
　　’I’llneverlaughatanythingyoudo，’heanswered’I’llbeanartist，andI’lldothings。’
　　’Artistsalwayswantmoney，don’tthey？’
　　’I’vegotahundredandtwentypoundsayearofmyownMyguardianstellmeI’mtohaveitwhenIcomeofageThatwillbeenoughtobeginwith。’
　　’Ah，I’mrich，’saidMaisie’I’vegotthreehundredayearallmyownwhenI’mtwenty-oneThat’swhyMrsJennettiskindertomethansheistoyouIwish，though，thatIhadsomebodythatbelongedtome，——justafatheroramother。’
　　’Youbelongtome，’saidDick，’foreverandever。’
　　’Yes，webelong——foreverIt’sverynice。’Shesqueezedhisarm。
　　Thekindlydarknesshidthemboth，and，emboldenedbecausehecouldonlyjustseetheprofileofMaisie’scheekwiththelonglashesveilingthegrayeyes，Dickatthefrontdoordeliveredhimselfofthewordshehadbeenbogglingoverforthelasttwohours-
　　’AndI——loveyou，Maisie，’hesaid，inawhisperthatseemedtohimtoringacrosstheworld，——theworldthathewouldto-morroworthenextdaysetouttoconquer-
　　Therewasascene，not，forthesakeofdiscipline，tobereported，whenMrsJennettwouldhavefallenuponhim，firstfordisgracefulunpunctuality，andsecondlyfornearlykillinghimselfwithaforbiddenweapon-
　　’Iwasplayingwithit，anditwentoffbyitself，’saidDick，whenthepowder-pockedcheekcouldnolongerbehidden，’butifyouthinkyou’regoingtolickmeyou’rewrongYouarenevergoingtotouchmeagain-
　　SitdownandgivememyteaYoucan’tcheatusoutofthat，anyhow。’
　　MrsJennettgaspedandbecamelividMaisiesaidnothing，butencouragedDickwithhereyes，andhebehavedabominablyallthateveningMrsJennettprophesiedanimmediatejudgmentofProvidenceandadescentintoTophetlater，butDickwalkedinParadiseandwouldnothearOnlywhenhewasgoingtobedMrsJennettrecoveredandassertedherselfHehadbiddenMaisiegood-nightwithdown-droppedeyesandfromadistance-
　　’Ifyouaren’tagentlemanyoumighttrytobehavelikeone，’saidMrs-
　　Jennett，spitefully’You’vebeenquarrellingwithMaisieagain。’
　　Thismeantthattheusualgood-nightkisshadbeenomitted。
　　Maisie，whitetothelips，thrusthercheekforwardwithafineairofindifference，andwasdulypeckedbyDick，whotrampedoutoftheroomredasfireThatnighthedreamedawilddreamHehadwonalltheworldandbroughtittoMaisieinacartridge-box，butsheturneditoverwithherfoot，and，insteadofsaying’Thankyou，’cried——
　　’WhereisthegrasscollaryoupromisedforAmomma？Oh，howselfishyouare！’