92 CONVERSATIONAL HINTS 



CHAPTEE XV 



THE KEEPER. (HIS TIPS) 



THIS subject is not only of immense importance 

 especially to the possessors of small incomes, but 

 it has all the charm that comes from mystery. 

 Observe towards the end of the last day's shooting 

 how the keeper hangs about, still finding something 

 to attend to, someone to admonish, when on other 

 days he has sped cheerfully away to the house. 

 Observe too how the guns collect in little knots, 

 and ask mysterious questions of one another and 

 fumble in waistcoat pockets, while the host 

 assumes an air of unconcern, and strolls apart from 

 his friends. What can it all mean ? It means 

 simply this, that the tipping time has arrived. 



There is not much conversation to be made of 

 it. The thing is done too quickly and with too 

 complete a pretence that nothing of the kind is 



