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                              The Devourers


                                    By

                           A. Vivanti Chartres


                           G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
                           NEW YORK AND LONDON
                         The Knickerbocker Press
                                   1910



                           COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY
                           A. VIVANTI CHARTRES.



                            TO MY WONDERCHILD

                                  VIVIEN

                TO READ WHEN SHE HAS WONDERCHILDREN OF HER OWN




PREFACE


There was a man, and he had a canary. He said, "What a dear little
canary! I wish it were an eagle." God said to him: "If you give your
heart to it to feed on, it will become an eagle." So the man gave his
heart to it to feed on. And it became an eagle, and plucked his eyes
out.

There was a woman, and she had a kitten. She said: "What a dear little
kitten! I wish it were a tiger." God said to her: "If you give your
life's blood to it to drink, it will become a tiger." So the woman gave
her life's blood to it to drink. And it became a tiger, and tore her to
pieces.

There was a man and a woman, and they had a child. They said: "What a
dear little child! We wish it were a genius."...




BOOK I




I


The baby opened its eyes and said: "I am hungry."

Nothing moved in the silent, shadowy room, and the baby repeated its
brief inarticulate cry. There were hurrying footsteps; light arms raised
it, and a laughing voice soothed it with senseless, sweet-sounding
words. Then its cheek was laid on a cool young breast, and all was tepid
tenderness and mild delight. Soon, on the wave of a light-swinging
breath, it drooped into sleep again.

       *       *       *       *       *

Edith Avory had hurried home across the meadow from the children's party
at the vicarage, her pendant plaits flying, her straw hat aslant, and
now she entered the dining-room of the Grey House fluttered and
breathless.

"Have they come?" she asked of Florence, who