228 THE COMPLETE SPORTSMAN 



the clerk, as she hurriedly thrust the letter away 

 in the bosom of her dress. 



George pondered a moment. " What kind 

 have you got ?" he inquired suavely. " I rather 

 thought of having one of those little square ones 

 •\\dth a portrait of His Majesty " — here my cousin 

 reverently raised his hat — " on one side, and some 

 nice gum on the other; but I'm not particular." 



The assistant drew a large portfolio of stamps 

 from a drawer in the counter, and laid it open 

 before us. 



" Penny, halfpenny, tw^opence-half penny, six- 

 penny," she explained briefly, pointing to the 

 different varieties offered to our notice. 



" Look, Reginald !" My cousin's voice was 

 vibrant with enthusiasm. '' Look at those 

 lovely green ones ! I think I ought to have one 

 of those, don't you ? Halfpenny, are they ? 

 Well, I can run to that, I dare say. Shall w^e 

 each have one, Reginald, or do you feel more 

 drawn towards the mauve kind ?" 



" I'm not sure," I answered. " The mauve 

 ones would certainly go better with my yellow 

 boots; but still, they're more expensive " 



" The great thing," said George, " is not to 

 settle in a hurry. I've always heard that when 

 one has actually bought a stamp the post office 

 refuses to take it back. It's one of their rules, 

 I believe. Tiresome, but there it is !" 



