260 FIELD AND FERN. 



their mistress that they are "the best table fowl 

 in the world." The egg chambers of the La Fleche 

 know little rest, except at moulting time, and there- 

 fore with a special view to egg profit Mrs. Blairs 

 farm is principally stocked with them. " Dinnafret 

 yourself. Cocky" says Annie to one of them as she 

 gathers it up to look at its feet ; but it is on them 

 again in an instant, as she snatches up a wand, and 

 rushes best pace to the other side of the green. A 

 three-cup Bramah has demeaned itself so far as to 

 quarrel with a nameless Dorking ; and as we retire 

 through the evening shades, the last words that float 

 on the breeze are, " Oh ! ye're a bad boy, fighting !" 



