86 LOLA 



On the next day, 4 May, the sun shone once more 

 as she had said it would, and in the afternoon I asked 

 her : " How do you come to know the weather, Lola ? 

 How do you do it ? " " Raten " (guessing). In 

 astonishment I said : " From whom have you got that 

 word ? " " Dir " (from you). " Have you heard me 

 say it ? " " Yes ! " On the 5th there were a few 

 drops of rain, and on the 6th two hours' heavy down- 

 fall, but on the 7th it was dry and sunny, so that it 

 may be that I had taxed her powers of anticipation 

 beyond their limit, for I had asked her far in advance 

 of the 3rd. From time to time she then continued to 

 give me " advance information " as to the kind of 

 weather to expect, two days or, at most, three days 

 were the test put, and for some time I was able to fully 

 rely on her forecasts, and would arrange my work 

 accordingly, being careful not to cut or mow when 

 Lola had prophesied rain, etc. 



One morning, the sort of day when one cannot be 

 sure of what it means to do, rain or clear, I again sought 

 my dog's advice ! It was very important to me that 

 the hay should be carried, while the weather was dry, 

 but I should have preferred having it loaded up towards 

 evening, as the carts were wanted for other work if 

 only I knew what to expect 1 Lola decided for " r " 

 (rain) in the afternoon, so I had the hay carried at 

 eleven at three the rain began, but my loads were 

 saved ! A long period of wet weather followed ; 

 after this had continued for a fortnight a beautiful 

 morning broke, fine and clear, so that every one about 

 the farm said " at last it's going to be fine again ! " 

 I enquired of Lola " Will there be sun to-day ? " 

 " No 1 " she said : " Then tell me what the weather 

 will be to-day ? " I urged. " r." I was loth to believe 

 her, yet, by eleven, the rain had begun aeain. Now 



