RAGGING 227 



" Come and help me buy a stamp," said 

 George one afternoon, as we were strolling to- 

 gether along the crowded streets, in a vain 

 endeavour to kill time. 



Unsuspectingly I allowed myself to be led 

 into the nearest post office, where a number of 

 rather untidy young ladies were sitting behind 

 a long grill, engaged in their various avocations. 



" Excuse me, miss," said George politely, 

 lifting his hat to a hard-featured young person 

 whose particular section of the railing was 

 labelled " Inquiries," " but can you oblige me 

 with a stamp ?" 



" Other end of the counter for stamps !" 

 curtly replied the damsel, as she turned her 

 back upon us and proceeded to arrange her hair 

 in a small pocket mirror. 



" I beg your pardon, I'm sure," remarked my 

 cousin, as we moved away in the direction in- 

 dicated. 



" Forgive my interrupting your labours," he 

 courteously exclaimed, a moment later, to the 

 lady in charge of the stamp department, who 

 was absorbed in the perusal of what was prob- 

 ably a love-letter. " I don't inquire out of 

 mere curiosity, but because it's rather important 

 that I should know. Have you got any stamps 

 in this post office ?" 



"What kind of stamps do you want?" asked 



