An Alarming Interlude 



Bush baby, or perhaps all. . . . Probably they 

 will never materialise, for the tragic experiment 

 with the ducks stands as an awful warning : though 

 I am left wondering how country life can ever be 

 thought dull, or why peasants ever go to seek 

 adventure in the towns. Probably because they 

 are peasants and can live through live-stock 

 tragedies unmoved, just as human tragedies can 

 pass over townsfolk without their turning a hair. 



It is all a question of nerves, and London has 

 not left mine strong enough for such raw brutalities, 

 and I do not easily forget them. 



But surely a stork could be trained not to eat 

 fish ? . . . I wonder. 



In my youth I was taught and believed that 

 my prayers were answered immediately. If I 

 lost a thimble, I prayed and found it. 



Hardly had I uttered a devout wish for a stork 

 than, having slept on the wish, a heron descended 

 from the heavens ; and, as usual with the gifts 

 of heaven, we clipped its wings. 



We were at breakfast when the maid appeared 

 holding in her arms a long-necked, long-legged 

 creature at which she was gazing in breathless, 

 fearful pride. 



" Good gracious ! " said I. " What is it ? " 



I had half forgotten my devout wish. 

 167 



