IN THE WAKE OF THE PARTRIDGE 187 



and afterwards. Sol say hastily, &quot;Oh, no, no! 

 Of course you know a great deal more than I 

 do. We 11 go wherever you think best.&quot; 



&quot;Well, perhaps it is too warm for the 

 swamps to-day. Now, they might be in the 

 birches.&quot; 



&quot;Oh, dear! Don t let s go to the birches! 

 The birds can t be there. They never are.&quot; 



&quot;I thought we were going to go where I 

 thought best.&quot; 



&quot; Yes but only not to the birches. It s all 

 a private myth of yours about their being 

 there.&quot; 



&quot;Is it a private myth of mine that you shot 

 those two woodcock in the birches of the 

 upper farm last year? And how about that 

 big gray partridge &quot; 



&quot;Well of course that was later in the 

 season. I suppose the birds do eat birch buds 

 when everything else gives out.&quot; 



And so I criticize, having agreed not to. 

 But it s good for Jonathan; it makes him 

 careful. 



&quot;Well, shall it be the swamp?&quot; 



&quot;No; if you really think they re in the 

 birches, we ll go there. Besides, the swamp 



