HONEYSUCKLE AND BITTER APPLE 



at the sty, for there was peace till the next Tuesday, 

 when the wind blew from the south again. Then Loki's 

 Grandmother marched into the room of Loki's 

 Grandfather <there was no Loki then, so he wasn't 

 a grandfather, but that is immaterial) and dictated 

 a letter to the schoolmaster. Loki's 

 Future Grandfather protested. It is the 

 kind of thing he hates doing. She drove 

 him into the garden to smell. He tried 

 to say he couldn't smell it. Then 

 she changed her tactics and hinted 

 at insalubrity ~a case of diphtheria 

 in the village, and the danger to 

 Loki's Future Mother. That had 

 him. He went in and sat down like 

 a lamb. She dictated, as has been 

 said. If anyone wants to know 

 the kind of letter in which to re- 

 monstrate upon a neighbouring 

 schoolmaster's pigsty, he cannot 

 do better than copy this model :, 



" Dear Sir, I must apologize for 

 troubling you but I feel sure that 

 you are unaware of the offensive 

 condition of the pigsty which 

 adjoins our garden " 



"Offensive?" said Loki's Grandpa doubtfully. 

 " Offensive," said she firmly. " Offensive, you can't put any- 

 thing milder. It's disgusting, pestilential, a public nuisance." 

 " There is so much sickness in the district "she dictated on. 



h 113 



