254 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



however, to be condoned, but not a cat ! Instantly 

 Amos fixed upon Larry as the responsible cause of 

 the calamity, Larry, who is so soaked in a species of 

 folk-lore, blended of tradition, imagination, and high 

 spirits that, after hearing him talk, it is easy to believe 

 that he deals in magic by the aid of a black cat, and 

 unfortunately the cat brought in by David was of this 

 colour ! 



Then Amos spoke, for David's honour was as his 

 own, and Larry heard a pronounced Yankee's opinion, 

 not only of all the inhabitants of the Emerald Isle, 

 but of one in particular ! After freeing his mind, he 

 threatened to free his house of Larry as a lodger, this 

 being particularly unfortunate considering the near 

 approach of one of that gentleman's times of retire- 

 ment. 



Last night I thought the sky had again cleared, for 

 Amos discovered that the postmaster did not suspect 

 the cat episode, and as Larry had no friends in the 

 village through which it might leak out, the old man 

 seemed much relieved; also, Larry apparently is not 

 a harbourer of grievances. Within an hour, however, 

 a second episode has further strained the relationship 

 of lodger and host, and it has snapped. 



Though still quite stiff in the joints, Amos came 



