BLANKS AND TROUBLES 191 



went the little lass to the cottage, returning soon 

 with a white-clothed tray, on which were dainty 

 biscuits and a steaming cup of tea. All soon 

 disappeared. The little caterer evidently observed 

 that there was a rustic appetite to be appeased, for 

 she said : " If you will come up into the cottage, 

 sir, I will lay the cloth for you, and you can have 

 a proper meal." "But," I said, "will it be 

 convenient for your mother?" "My mother's 

 dead, sir," was the simple reply. 



I went. The dear little girl soon had the 

 cloth laid, and a simple but an appetizing meal on 

 the table. It was a time when the rationing 

 difficulty was not yet solved, and I said : " But what 

 about your father ? " " Oh," replied she, " he's 

 at work in the fields, and I've plenty of food for 

 him." She was ready at every turn, this good, 

 capable, little hostess. 



I asked her if she ought not to be careful 

 before letting strangers come into the cottage. 

 " Oh," answered she, cutting more bread and 

 butter, " 1 feel quite safe ; besides there's a gun 

 in the next room ! " 



So, thus entertained, I made up tor the missing 

 luncheon and, on leaving, handed over a few 

 shillings as a return. I asked her if her father 

 would like a grayling, for I had one of about 

 three-quarters of a pound, in beautiful condition, 

 in the bag. "Oh, yes, thank you, sir," was her 

 quick, grateful reply. 



Good little housewife ! I used to think no 

 little hostesses in the world could compare with 



