276 GARRYOWEN 



He remembered that the last time he was here 

 there was some coal and firewood in the little 

 out-house at the corner adjoining the shed under 

 whose shelter he had placed the car. He went out 

 now, and, opening the out-house door, found 

 several hundredweight of coal stacked in a corner 

 of the shed, and a dozen or so bundles of firewood 

 by the coal; an old basket stood by the coal, 

 and filling this with fuel and sticks he returned 

 to the cottage. 



Giveen was still snoring, and Mr Dashwood, 

 who had no desire for his company, left him to his 

 slumbers whilst he proceeded to the business of 

 lighting the fire. Then he undid the package of 

 provisions and spread the contents on the dresser. 

 Tinned meat and biscuits formed the store — 

 nothing else, unless we include two small jars 

 of oHves; and as Mr Dashwood looked at the 

 row of biscuit bags and tins he came to the con- 

 clusion that, however learned in Eugenics and 

 Sociology, Miss Hitchen was somehow deficient 

 in her knowledge of household management. 

 When he had untinned a tongue, put some biscuits 

 on a plate, and boiled some water, which, if you 

 drink it hot enough and with your eyes shut, 

 you cannot distinguish from tea, he called his 

 companion, and they sat down to their cheerless 

 meal, Giveen amiable and even cheerful, seeming 

 to find nothing extraordinary in his position 

 but fencing with the subject whenever Bobby 

 brought the conversation in the direction of Siam, 



