Дни грёз

           WhenatlastIbroughtmyselfbackfromthefuturetotheactualpresent,IfoundthatthesedelectablevisionshadhelpedmeoveralongerstretchofroadthanIhadimagined;andIlookedaroundandtookmybearings.Totherightofmewasalonglowbuildingofgreystone,new,andyetnotsmuglyso;new,andyetpossessingdistinction,markedwithacharacterthatdidnotdependonlichenoroncrumblingsemi-effacementofmouldingandmullion.Strangersmighthavebeenpuzzledtoclassifyit;tome,anexplorerfromearliestyears,theplacewasfamiliarenough.Mostfolkcalledit“TheSettlement”;others,withquitesufficientconcisenessforourneighbourhood,spokeof“themtherefellowsupbyHalliday’s;”othersagain,withahintofderision,namedthemthe“monks.”ThislasttitleIsupposedtobeintendedforsatire,andknewtobefatuouslywrong.Iwasthoroughlyacquaintedwithmonks—inbooks—andwellknewthecutoftheirlongfrocks,theirshavenpolls,andtheirfascinatingbigdogs,withbrandy-bottlesroundtheirnecks,incessantlyhaulinghappytravellersoutofthesnow.TheonlydogatthesettlementwasanIrishterrier,andthegoodfellowswhoownedhim,andwereownedbyhim,incommon,woreclothesofthemostnondescriptorder,andmostlycultivatedside-whiskers.Ihadwanderedupthereoneday,searching(asusual)forsomethingIneverfound,andhadbeentakeninbythemandtreatedasfriendandcomrade.