Page:The Wonderful Visit.djvu/33

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THE WONDERFUL VISIT.

what matter-of-fact person. A Vicar has to be. Angels I have always regarded as—artistic conceptions———"

"Exactly what we think of men."

"But surely you have seen so many men———"

"Never before to-day. In pictures and books, times enough of course. But I have seen several since the sunrise, solid real men, besides a horse or so those Unicorn things you know, without horns and quite a number of those grotesque knobby things called 'cows.' I was naturally a little frightened at so many mythical monsters, and came to hide here until it was dark. I suppose it will be dark again presently like it was at first. Phew! This Pain of yours is poor fun. I hope I shall wake up directly."

"I don't understand quite," said the Vicar, knitting his brows and tapping his forehead with his flat hand. "Mythical monster!" The worst thing he had been called for years hitherto was a 'mediæval anachronism' (by an advocate of Disestablishment). "Do I understand that you consider me as—as something in a dream?"

"Of course," said the Angel smiling.