1 84 FIELD AND HEDGEROW. 



Country people are very peculiar in this respect, and do 

 not like to remind their friends of obligations. Two 

 years went by, and still no return, though the parties 

 were in constant intercourse. I have known people 

 borrow a hundred pounds in the country, and debtor and 

 creditor meet several times a week for years, and nothing 

 said about it on cither side. No strained relations were 

 caused -it seemed quite forgotten till executors came. 

 Three years went by, still no dogcart, though it was 

 seen daily on the roads in use. I was driving with a 

 man once when we met a woman walking, and as we 

 passed she put up her umbrella so as not to be able to 

 see us. ' That's So-ancl-so,' said he ; ' they borrowed 

 some money from me a long time ago ; they have never 

 said anything about it. Whenever she meets me she 

 always puts up her umbrella so as not to sec me.' Four 

 years went by, and still no dogcart. By this time it was 

 looking shabby and getting shaken by rough usage ; 

 perhaps they did not like to return it in such a condi- 

 tion. Five years went by, and after that they seem to 

 have lost all count of the dogcart, which faded away like 

 a phantom. One farmer had been telling another some- 

 thing which his companion seemed to consider doubtful, 

 and disputed ; however, he finished up by saying, 

 ' That's no lie, I can assure you.' ' Well, no ; but I 

 should certainly have taken it as such.' One fellow 

 happening by chance in the hunting-field to come across 

 the Prince of Wales, took off his hat with both hands to 

 express his deep humility. Here is a cottage nursery 

 rhyme, genuinely silly : 



Right round my garden 

 There I found a farden, 

 Gave it to my mother 

 To buy a little brother. 



