70 CONVERSATIONAL HINTS 



together, does it ? Don't you be alarmed, old quill- 

 driver, they'll never run a strike of that kind for 

 more than a day. They'll all come troopin' back, 

 beggin' to be forgiven, and all that, and, by gum, 

 we shall have to take 'em back too, just as we're all 

 congratulatin' ourselves that we shan't have to go 

 to any more blessed picnics. That's a woman's idea 

 of enjoyin' herself in the country nothin' but one 

 round of picnics. I give you my word, when I was 

 stayin' with old Fred Derriman, in Perthshire, they 

 reg'larly mapped out the whole place for picnics, 

 and I'm dashed if they didn't spoil our best day's 

 drivin' by picnickin' in, "oh, such a sweet place." 

 Truth is, they can't get along without us, my son, 

 only they won't admit it, bless 'em ! And, after 

 all, we're better off when they're in the house, I'm 

 bound to confess ; so I don't mind lettin' 'em have 

 a picnic or two, just to keep 'em sweet. Them's 

 my sentiments, old cock, and you're welcome to 

 them.' 



I thanked the captain for his courtesy, and 

 withdrew. But if the whole thing is merely a 

 matter of picnics, it is far simpler than I imagined. 



