THEMARKONTHEWALLPerhapsitwasthemiddleofJanuaryinthepresentthatIfirstlookedupandsawthemarkonthewall.Inordertofixadateitisnecessarytorememberwhatonesaw.SonowIthinkofthefire;thesteadyfilmofyellowlightuponthepageofmybook;thethreechrysanthemumsintheroundglassbowlonthemantelpiece.Yes,itmusthavebeenthewintertime,andwehadjustfinishedourtea,forIrememberthatIwassmokingacigarettewhenIlookedupandsawthemarkonthewallforthefirsttime.Ilookedupthroughthesmokeofmycigaretteandmyeyelodgedforamomentupontheburningcoals,andthatoldfancyofthecrimsonflagflappingfromthecastletowercameintomymind,andIthoughtofthecavalcadeofredknightsridingupthesideoftheblackrock.Rathertomyreliefthesightofthemarkinterruptedthefancy,foritisanoldfancy,anautomaticfancy,madeasachildperhaps.Themarkwasasmallroundmark,blackuponthewhitewall,aboutsixorseveninchesabovethemantelpiece.Howreadilyourthoughtsswarmuponanewobject,liftingitalittleway,asantscarryabladeofstrawsofeverishly,andthenleaveit...Ifthatmarkwasmadebyanail,itcan'thavebeenforapicture,itmusthavebeenforaminiature--theminiatureofaladywithwhitepowderedcurls,powder-dustedcheeks,andlipslikeredcarnations.Afraudofcourse,forthepeoplewhohadthishousebeforeuswouldhavechosenpicturesinthatway--anoldpictureforanoldroom.Thatisthesortofpeopletheywere--veryinterestingpeople,andIthinkofthemsooften,insuchqueerplaces,becauseonewillneverseethemagain,neverknowwhathappenednext.Theywantedtoleavethishousebecausetheywantedtochangetheirstyleoffurniture,sohesaid,andhewasinprocessofsayingthatinhisopinionartshouldhaveideasbehinditwhenweweretornasunder,asoneistornfromtheoldladyabouttopouroutteaandtheyoungmanabouttohitthetennisballinthebackgardenofthesuburbanvillaasonerushespastinthetrain.Butasforthatmark,I'mnotsureaboutit;Idon'tbelieveitwasmadebyanailafterall;it'stoobig,tooround,forthat.Imightgetup,butifIgotupandlookedatit,tentooneIshouldn'tbeabletosayforcertain;becauseonceathing'sdone,nooneeverknowshowithappened.Oh!dearme,themysteryoflife;Theinaccuracyofthought!Theignoranceofhumanity!Toshowhowverylittlecontrolofourpossessionswehave--whatanaccidentalaffairthislivingisafterallourcivilization--letmejustcountoverafewofthethingslostinonelifetime,beginning,forthatseemsalwaysthemostmysteriousoflosses--whatcatwouldgnaw,whatratwouldnibble--threepalebluecanistersofbook-bindingtools?Thentherewerethebirdcages,theironhoops,thesteelskates,theQueenAnnecoal-scuttle,thebagatelleboard,thehandorgan--allgone,andjewels,too.Opalsandemeralds,theylieabouttherootsofturnips.Whatascrapingparingaffairitistobesure!ThewonderisthatI'veanyclothesonmyback,thatIsitsurroundedbysolidfurnitureatthismoment.Why,ifonewantstocomparelifetoanything,onemustlikenittobeingblownthroughtheTubeatfiftymilesanhour--landingattheotherendwithoutasinglehairpininone'shair!ShotoutatthefeetofGodentirelynaked!Tumblingheadoverheelsintheasphodelmeadowslikebrownpaperparcelspitcheddownashootinthepostoffice!Withone'shairflyingbacklikethetailofarace-horse.Yes,thatseemstoexpresstherapidityoflife,theperpetualwasteandrepair;allsocasual,allsohaphazard...Butafterlife.Theslowpullingdownofthickgreenstalkssothatthecupoftheflower,asitturnsover,delugesonewithpurpleandredlight.Why,afterall,shouldonenotbebornthereasoneisbornhere,helpless,speechless,unabletofocusone'seyesight,gropingattherootsofthegrass,atthetoesoftheGiants?Asforsayingwhicharetrees,andwhicharemenandwome...
