62 THE ADMIRAL'S TEA-PARTY 



the costume that no doubt is hidden beneath the 

 long, enveloping cloak. 



Our village makes a very charming picture on a 

 winter's evening, for the houses stand clustered 

 round one brightly illuminated shop. The high- 

 roofed, old-fashioned cottages with their queer- 

 shaped, big chimneys look black against the sky. 

 The small windows, with their leaded lights, are 

 dark as yet, for no one wishes to light up before it 

 is absolutely necessary, so that all the brilliant 

 warm glow comes from the bay window of the shop 

 across the narrow street. Here everything that 

 heart of man, woman, or child can wish for is to be 

 obtained, from tobacco, familiarly called " shag," 

 to Vim or Ronuk for cleaning, and then again to 

 luscious pepperminty brown bulls '-eyes that stand 

 in bottles where boys and girls can see them best. 

 How all the little Carter's Pills, boot-laces, bananas, 

 and Monkey Brand soap can be kept from becoming 

 hopelessly mixed up with each other and the postage 

 stamps is a riddle that I often try to solve. It is 

 proof that an hereditary instinct for organisation 

 and orderliness has been transmitted from father 

 to son, who have successively owned the same 

 business since the eighteenth century. A strong 

 inclination to Conservatism is also represented, for 

 the same shiny brown tobacco-jar, standing upon 

 a shelf purposely scooped out and enlarged to 

 support it, has held that consolation of the working 

 man for over a hundred years. 



It is wonderful indeed what valuable past history 

 lies sheltered still in the hollows at the foot of our 

 hills. As in early days of husbandry when Plan- 



