348 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



SO I came to ask you if you'd be good enough 

 to lend me a sovereign, which I will re-pay you 



the day after I come out of the grass country, 

 Can you do it ?" 



" Yes, Monk, I can, and what's more, I 

 will," said I, pulling the coin out of my pocket. 

 " There it is." 



" Thank you, keeper, it will do me a world 

 of good if we have a fine hay time." 



" Well, come in, old chap, and have a snack 

 before you go," said I. And so he did. 



After hay harvest Monk called, according 

 to his word, and paid me as honourably as if 

 he was Lord Mayor. Then Christmas came 

 around, and he called for his rabbits, and the 

 five bob the squire had promised him. He 

 got them. 



" Thank you, keeper," said he.. " I s'pose 

 you havn't such a thing as a pair of old 

 leggings you don't want." 



"Why, yes," said I. "I'll just tell the 

 wife to look out some things, and make you 

 up a bundle. Now come in and have a snack." 

 He did, and, after a good square meal, we 



