his feet about。 At last he said
〃You must admit that while you lived you had a first…class time under
my protection。 Lots of turnips to eat and so forth。〃
〃A first…class time！〃 the Hare answered with withering scorn。 〃What
sort of a time would you have had if some one had shot you all over
the back and you must creep away to die of pain and starvation？ How
would you have enjoyed it if； from day to day； you had been forced to
live in terror of cunning monsters； who at any hour might appear to
hurt you in some new fashion？ Do you suppose that animals cannot feel
fear； and is continual fear the kind of friend that gives them a
'first…class time'？〃
To this last argument the Man seemed able to find no answer。
〃Mr。 Hare；〃 he said humbly； 〃we are all fallible。 Although I never
thought to find myself in the position of having to do so； I will
admit that I may possibly have been mistaken in my views and treatment
of you and your kind； and indeed of other creatures。 If so； I
apologise for any； ahtemporary inconvenience I may have caused you。
I can do no more。〃
〃Come； Hare；〃 I interposed； 〃that's handsome； perhaps you might let
bygones be bygones。〃
〃Apologise！〃 exclaimed the Hare。 〃After all I have suffered I do not
think it is enough。 At the very least； Mahatma； he should say that he
is heartily ashamed and sorry。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said the Man； 〃it's no use making two bites of a cherry。
I am sorry； truly sorry for all the pain and terror I have brought on
you。 If that won't do let's go up and settle the matter； and if I've
been wrong I'll try to bear the consequences like a gentleman。 Only；
Mr。 Hare； I hope that you will not wish to put your case more strongly
against me than you need。〃
〃Not I； Man。 I know now that you only erred because the truth had not
been revealed to youbecause you did not understand。 All that I will
ask； if I can； is that you may be allowed to tell this truth to other
men。〃
〃Well； I am glad to say I can't do that； Hare。〃
〃Don't be so sure；〃 I broke in； 〃it's just the kind of thing which
might be decreeda generation or two hence when the world is fit to
listen to you。〃
But he took no heed； or did not comprehend me； and went on
〃It is an impossibility； and if I did they would think me a lunatic or
a snivelling； sentimental humbug。 I believe that lots of my old
friends would scarcely speak to me again。 Why； putting aside the
pleasures of sport； if the views you preach were to be accepted； what
would become of keepers and beaters and huntsmen and dog…breeders； and
of thousands of others who directly or indirectly get their living out
of hunting and shooting？ Where would game rents be also？〃
〃I don't know； I am sure；〃 replied the Hare wearily。 〃I suppose that
they would earn their living in some other way； as they must in
countries where there is no sport； and that you would have to make up
for shooting rents by growing more upon the land。 You know that after
all we hares and the other game eat a great deal which might be saved
if there were not so many of us。 But I am not wise； and I have never
looked at the question from that point of view。 It may seem selfish；
but I have to consider myself and the creatures whose cause I plead；
for something inside me is telling me nowyes； nowthat all of them
are speaking through my mouth。 It says that is why I am allowed to be
here and to talk with you both； for their sakes rather than for my
own。〃
〃If you have more to say you had better say it quickly；〃 I
interrupted； addressing the Red…faced Man。 〃I see that the Lights are
beginning to change； which means that soon the Road will be closed and
the Gates opened。〃
〃I can't remember anything；〃 he answered。 〃Yes； there is one matter；〃
he added nervously。 〃I see； Mr。 Hare； that you are thinking of my boy
Tom； not very kindly I am afraid。 As you have been so good as to
forgive me I hope that you won't be hard on Tom。 He is not at all a
bad sort of a lad if a little thoughtless； like many other young
people。〃
〃I don't like Tom；〃 said the Hare； with decision。 〃Tom shot me when
you told him not to shoot。 Tom shut me up in a filthy place with a
yellow rabbit which he forgot to feed； so that it wanted to eat me。
Tom tried to cut me off from the wood so that the running dogs might
catch me； although you shouted to him that it was not sportsmanlike。
Tom dragged me out of the sea and blew down my nostrils to keep me
alive。 Tom threw me to the hounds； although Giles remonstrated with
him and even the huntsman begged him to let me go。 I tell you that I
don't like Tom。〃
〃Still； Mr。 Hare；〃 pleaded the Red…faced Man； 〃I hope that if it
should be in your power when we get through those Gates； that you will
be merciful to Tom。 I can't think of much to say for him in this
hurry； but there； he is my only son and the truth is that I love him。
You know he may liveto be differentif you don't bring some
misfortune on him。〃
〃Who am I to bring misfortune or to withhold it？〃 asked the Hare；
softening visibly。 〃Well； I know what love means； for my mother loved
me and I loved her in my way。 I tell you that when I saw her dead；
turned from a beautiful living thing into a stained lump of flesh and
fur； I felt dreadful。 I understand now that you love Tom as my mother
loved me； and； Man； for the sake of your lovenot for his sake； mind
I promise you that I won't say anything against Tom if I can help
it； or do anything either。〃
〃You're a real good fellow！〃 exclaimed the Red…faced Man； with evident
relief。 〃Give me your hand。 Oh！ I forgot； you can't。 Hullo！ what's up
now？ Everything seems to be altering。〃
*****
As he spoke； to my eyes the Lights began to change in earnest。 All the
sky （I call it sky for clearness） above the mighty Gates became as it
were alive with burning tongues of every colour that an artist can
conceive。 By degrees these fiery tongues or swords shaped themselves
into a vast circle which drove back the walls of darkness； and through
this circle； guided； guarded by the spirits of dead suns； with odours
and with chantings； descended that crowned City of the Mansions before
whose glory imagination breaks and even Vision veils her eyes。
It descended； its banners wavering in the winds of prayer； it hung
above the Gates； the flowers of all splendours； Heaven's very rose；
hung like an opal on the boundless breast of night； and there it
stayed。
The Voice in the North called to the Voice in the South； the Voice in
the East called to the Voice in the West； and up the Great White Road
sped the Angel of the Road； making report as he came that all his
multitude were gathered in and for that while the Road was barred。
He passed and in a flash the Gates were burned away。 The ashes of them
fell upon the heads of those waiting at the Gates； whitening their
faces and drying their tears before the Change。 They fell upon the Man
and the Hare beside me； veiling them as it were and making them
silent； but on me they did not fall。 Then； from between the Wardens of
the Gates； flowed forth the Helpers and the Guardians （save those who
already were without comforting the children） seeking their beloved
and bearing the Cups of slumber and new birth； then pealed the
question
〃Who hath suffered most？ Let that one first taste of peace。〃
Now all the dim hosts surged forward since each outworn soul believed
that it had suffered most and was in the bitterest need of peace。 But
the Helpers and the Guardians gently pressed them back； and again
there pealed； no question but a command。
This was the command：
〃Draw near； thou Hare。〃
*****
Jorsen asked me what happened after this justification of the Hare；
which； if I heard aright； appeared to suggest that by the decree of
some judge unknown； the woes of such creatures are not unnoted and
despised； or left unsolaced。 Of course I had to answer him that I
could not tell。
Perhaps nothing happened at all。 Perhaps all the wonders I seemed to
see； even the Road by which souls travel from There to Here and from
Here to There； and the Gates that were burned away； and the City of
the Mansions that descended； were but signs and symbols of mysteries
which as yet we cannot grasp or understand。
Whatever may be the truth as to this matter of my visions； I need
hardly add； however； that no one can be more anxious than I am myself
to learn in what way the Red…faced Man； speaking on behalf of our
dominant race； and the Hare； speaking as an appointed advocate of the
subject animal creation； finished their argument in the light of
fuller knowledge。 Much also do I wonder which of them was proved to be
right； a difficult matter whereon I feel quite incompetent to express
any views。
But you see at that moment I woke up。 The edge of the Road on which I
was standing seemed to give way beneath me； and I fell into space as
one does in a nightmare。 It is a very unpleasant sensation。
*****
I remember noticing afterwards that I could not have been long asleep。
When I began to dream I had only just blown out the candle； and when I
awoke again there was still a smouldering spark upon its wick。
But； as I have said； in that spirit…land wither I had journeyed is