210 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap, xi 



a village cottagers' show. There were three judges for 

 the fruit and vegetables &c.— Mr. A, the head gardener 

 from the big house — and Messrs. B and C, gardeners in 

 humbler establishments. Mr. A, by right of his posi- 

 tion, took the matter in hand and distributed the 

 awards, the others humbly assenting in silence. Pre- 

 sently C, perhaps thinking it Avas better, if only as 

 a matter of form, to assert himself a little, suggested a 

 small point of disagreement. The matter was promptly 

 referred to B, and he decided the question by saying, 

 " Oh, I always goes with Mr. A ! " It was all right, for 

 Mr. A was a good judge, but it was plain that, unless 

 for ornament, B and C might as well have been at 

 home. 



