AT THE INN 149 



bedrooms, all coming under the landlady's super- 

 vision ; she also saw to catering, cooking, and 

 general management. The husband was busy all 

 day with a big posting business, and a large 

 poultry farm. Everything in and connected 

 with this hotel seemed to go like clockwork. 

 A better hotel there could not be, speaking from 

 the guest's rather than from the expert's point of 

 view. Both host and hostess had not only capa- 

 bility but also personality. And that explained it. 

 I have before touched on the tendency of 

 certain people to " crab everything." Fair criticism 

 is all right, for facts have to be faced, but some 

 critics are apt to say only the unkind thing of any- 

 body, and to neglect the many opportunities when 

 a good word could be said honestly. Inns and 

 hotels are specially open to this sort of belittle- 

 ment. I count it a pleasure and a sporting duty to 

 put on record the fact that, after staying several 

 weeks at that hotel, 1 had never once in the town or 

 neighbourhood heard aught expressed concerning 

 the hostess but expressions of admiration and 

 sincere regard. She and her husband had brought 

 up a large family, and they had to mourn the 

 loss of a good son in the war ; this was a sore 

 bereavement, but they suffered it bravely, and 

 went on with their work. Character, again ! It 

 was quite a usual thing when one was shopping 

 and gave the address to which the parcels were to 

 be sent, to hear the shopkeeper remark : " Oh, 



you're staying at the You'll get well looked 



after there ; Mrs. will see to that." 



