Henceforth they must dwell in the common light of common day . Only a few , who remain children at heart , can ever find that fair , lost path again ; and blessed are they above mortals . They , and only they , can bring us tidings from that dear country where we once sojourned and from which we must evermore be exiles . The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers ; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland . As we sat there the Awkward Man passed by , with his gun over his shoulder and his dog at his side . He did not look like an awkward man , there in the heart of the maple woods . He strode along right masterfully and lifted his head with the air of one who was monarch of all he surveyed . The Story Girl kissed her fingertips to him with the delightful audacity which was a part of her ; and the Awkward Man plucked off his hat and swept her a stately and graceful bow . `` I do n't understand why they call him the awkward man , '' said Cecily , when he was out of earshot . `` You 'd understand why if you ever saw him at a party or a picnic , '' said Felicity , `` trying to pass plates and dropping them whenever a woman looked at him . They say it 's pitiful to see him . '' `` I must get well acquainted with that man next summer , '' said the Story Girl . `` If I put it off any longer it will be too late . I 'm growing so fast , Aunt Olivia says I 'll have to wear ankle skirts next summer . If I begin to look grown-up he 'll get frightened of me , and then I 'll never find out the Golden Milestone mystery . '' `` Do you think he 'll ever tell you who Alice is ? '' I asked . `` I have a notion who Alice is already , '' said the mysterious creature . But she would tell us nothing more . When the jelly cookies were all eaten it was high time to be moving homeward , for when the dark comes down there are more comfortable places than a rustling maple wood and the precincts of a possibly enchanted spring .
When we reached the foot of the orchard and entered it through a gap in the hedge it was the magical , mystical time XXXXX `` between lights . ''
As If above by from in like of that to