THEIR GARDEN VACATION 49 



and then appeared but that little word of three 

 letters, and yet the condensation of whole volumes, 

 that is so often the stumbling- block to enthusiasm. 



" The translation of this particular but will take a quire 

 of paper, much ink, and double postage on my part, and 

 a deal of perusive patience on yours, so to proceed. Like 

 much else that is hearable the report is partly true, inso- 

 much that your father, Dr. Russell, thinks it necessary 

 for Bart to take a real vacation, as he put it, 'An entire 

 change in a place where time is not beaten insistently 

 at the usual sixty- seconds- a-minute rate, day in and out,' 

 where he shall have no train- catching or appointments 

 either business or social hanging over him. At the same 

 time he must not hibernate physically, but be where he 

 will feel impelled to take plenty of open-air exercise, 

 as a matter of course ! For you see, as a lawyer, Bart 

 breathes in a great deal of bad air, and his tongue and 

 pen hand get much more exercise than do his legs, while 

 all the spring he has 'gone back on his vittles that 

 reckless it would break your heart,' as Anastasia, our 

 devoted, if outspoken, Celtic cook puts it. 



" The exact location of this desired valley of perfection, 

 the ways and means 'of reaching it, as well as what shall 

 become of the house and Infant during our absence, 

 have formed a daily dialogue for the past fortnight, or 



