OUR DRAUGHTSMAN'S PREPARATIONS 219 



the secret leaks out and it becomes a question 

 of requisitioning many hands, from kind-hearted 

 " Nannie " downwards, to carry on the busy work. 

 Here is stitching to be done where the wide canvas 

 border stretches across the top ; then the little 

 Pompadour-dressed lady, carved in wood, who 

 presides upon the board above, has to be painted 

 and legs of wooden pedestals, upon which vases 

 of flowers are to stand, must be hurriedly shortened. 

 Many are drawn into the circle of helpers, and 

 their smiling faces certainly belie the suppressed 

 groans over their own good nature that are sus- 

 pected by those who are not intimately connected 

 with the work. 



When all is completed and the paint has dried, 

 a heavily-laden van transports the material along 

 sixteen miles of winding country lanes that separate 

 us from the draughtsman's home. As each new 

 trophy is lifted on to the garden path the eyes of 

 the youngest students glisten with childish excite- 

 ment and delight at the prospect of arranging 

 it all at the London flower show. 



Our village friends are also drawn into these 

 interests, for many of them, including the laundress 

 and her sister, both ardent gardeners and supporters 

 of women's work, are bidden to a private view of 

 the flowers that have been made ready for exhibition. 

 Picking is done some days beforehand, when 

 blooms are at their best, in order to preserve those 

 out-of-doors ones from rain or rough weather that 

 might do damage before the great day arrives. 

 Within the fruit-room, through the thick chalk 

 walls of which hardly a glimmer of light pene- 



