TRAMPS 131 



sloping sunbeams fall dancing through the branches on 

 the grass, and each gentle breath of air comes scented 

 with fragrant perfume, their felicity would appear to be 

 perfect. No need to pry too closely into sanitary 

 details, and possibly it is just as well that you do not 

 understand their speech. To tell the truth, the bois- 

 terousness of their spirits is somewhat out of tone with 

 the peaceful charm of their surroundings. But looking 

 on from some little distance at the scene, where good 

 digestion is waiting on hungry appetite, you may easily 

 look longingly at their sylvan independence. They 

 know nothing of the refinements they dispense with. 

 Cracked earthenware and clasp-knives and horn spoons 

 are made to do duty for plate and crystal. But then 

 they have none of that dreary waiting in drawing-rooms 

 while tardy arrivals come dropping in ; no getting up 

 in white-chokered stiffness of demeanour and tight- 

 fitting suits of sombre black, to settle themselves in a 

 sweltering summer atmosphere in a billowy surge of 

 skirts whose appearance of coolness is delusive ; no 

 having to discharge the duties of small-talk by an 

 unconscionable neighbour ; no ringing the laborious 

 changes on the jangling themes of fashion, " high life " 

 and high-lived company, pictures, taste, Shakespeare, 

 and the latest concert. They know nothing of the 

 hardships that press so painfully on well-to-do society, 

 of sitting down in the daily course of heavy living, 

 after late luncheon and afternoon tea, to the same irre- 

 pressible entrees and joints that haunt one in a train of 

 familiar nightmares. In unreasonable and jaundiced 



