88 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



had prevented his understanding that we strangers 

 were married couples. That this was so we dis- 

 covered from his addressing Mrs Ted as Miss. 

 Very quickly thereafter that lady found out which 

 ear of the old gentleman was the more useful to 

 him and with some cleverness managed to be 

 seated next to it at tea. She had the gift and 

 training that enabled her to modulate her voice to 

 the exact key to suit the drum of the most eccentric 

 ear, and so successful was she in this that the dear 

 old gentleman soon ceased to make a trumpet of 

 his hand and was, no doubt, beginning to believe 

 that his hearing had much improved, until Mrs 

 Jack, who had made several ineffectual attempts 

 on his denser ear, resorted to a high pitch which 

 caused her uncle to protest: " My dear Alice, I 

 am not so deaf as that ; talk a little lower, dear." 



Mrs Jack tried again to get her informing sug- 

 gestion home "You should invite Mrs to 

 bring her children to spend a day with you, 

 uncle." 



The lady referred to prevented any chance of 

 this being heard by means of a very musical laugh 

 and, with still a smile upon her face, spoke from 

 her advantageous position : " Your niece is kind 

 enough to suggest that you should ask me to come 

 and see you again some day that you may show 

 me over your dear old house, and let me see your 

 wonderful cattle that Jack has told me so much 

 about." 



Her hearer's face beamed and he turned to Mrs 

 Jack and, while patting her hand, said: "Quite 

 right, Alice, a very good idea." 



So good did he consider it that he gave the 



