II 



THE ENCLOSURE 29 



which I would hurry to receive a pot of manure. 

 Discretion on both sides was necessary, as will be 

 seen. One day his master appeared at the moment 

 of transfer, and made up his mind that all his 

 manure went over the wall, and that what he wanted 

 for his cabbages went to grow my verbenas and 

 narcissus. Vainly did I try to explain ; my ex- 

 planations seemed to him mere jests, Joseph got 

 a sound scolding, was called this and that, and 

 threatened with dismissal if it happened again. It 

 did not. 



I still had the resource of going bashfully along 

 the road with a twist of paper to gather up stealthily 

 provisions for my pupils. I did so, and do not 

 blush for it. Sometimes fate was kind. A donkey 

 carrying the produce of the market-gardens of 

 Chateau-Renard and Barbentane to Avignon would 

 depose an offering as he passed my door. Such a 

 gift, instantly collected, enriched me for several days. 

 In short, by hook or by crook, by watching for a 

 dropping, or turning diplomatist to get one, I suc- 

 ceeded in feeding my captives. If success is earned 

 by an experiment conducted with a fervour that 

 nothing can discourage, my experiment deserved to 

 prosper. It did not. After some time my Scara- 

 bsei, consumed by home-sickness in a space which 

 deprived them of their wider movements, let them- 

 selves die miserably without revealing their secret. 

 Gymnopleurus and Onthophagus responded better 

 to my expectations. In due time I shall use the 

 information furnished by them. 



Along with my attempts at education in an 

 enclosed space, I carried on direct researches, the 



