IDLEHURST: 



answers ; " the men for bottles of whisky, the women 

 for pairs of stockings and packets of tea, given by 

 the Trade." 



" Wonderful energy, Sir," says the General 

 "wonderful!" 



I turn with the Rector into his garden, a silent 

 paradise after the stuffy ineptitudes of the Greyhound 

 room. "All a puzzle, like most other things," says 

 the Rector "such a mixture of good management 

 and horrid folly ; so much sense and so much that is 

 utterly beastly ! If one only knew what to take 

 hold of out of it all ! " 



The band strikes up, far away in the Mill Meadow, 

 and we hear strident laughter and shouts. "Athletics," 

 says the Rector ; " then dancing. It is just five o'clock, 

 and about eleven they will be waking the street with 

 whoops and yells and ends of songs. Ay me ! " 



Just then Alice came in sight, with a white rabbit 

 tucked under one arm. She gave me rather a con- 

 strained welcome, as Barney was restive and had to 

 be securely embraced. 



" Uncle Phil said he would rather stay and eat 

 the gooseberries than go to the Saxons. But he 

 had to go, so I chose the best tree, to be ready when 

 he came back. Come on, Uncle Phil. It's over 

 there, by the potting-shed, little red ones. But 



