saw dark plumes tossing in the courtyard； and torches flickering and shadows kneeling。 A Queen once more stepped from her chariot。
‘The house is at your service； Ma’am；’ she cried； curtseying deeply。 ‘Nothing has been changed。 The dead Lord； my father； shall lead you in。’
As she spoke； the first stroke of midnight sounded。 The cold breeze of the present brushed her face with its little breath of fear。 She looked anxiously into the sky。 It was dark with clouds now。 The wind roared in her ears。 But in the roar of the wind she heard the roar of an aeroplane ing nearer and nearer。
‘Here！ Shel； here！’ she cried； baring her breast to the moon （which now showed bright） so that her pearls glowed—like the eggs of some vast moon–spider。 The aeroplane rushed out of the clouds and stood over her head。 It hovered above her。 Her pearls burnt like a phosphorescent flare in the darkness。
And as Shelmerdine； now grown a fine sea captain； hale； fresh–coloured； and alert； leapt to the ground； there sprang up over his head a single wild bird。
‘It is the goose！’ Orlando cried。 ‘The wild goose。。。’
And the twelfth stroke of midnight sounded； the twelfth stroke of midnight； Thursday； the eleventh of October； Nieen hundred and Twenty Eight。
THE END