' FARM TO LET.' 103 



" Dear Sir, We enclose to you applications for 

 Farm, marked 1 to 14, of which be pleased to return 

 those you wish answered. Six parties called yes- 

 terday, wishing to inspect personally and have refusal 

 of same. We will forward you further particulars to- 

 morrow. 



" We are, Sir, yours very truly, 



"PENN and DEBBITT." 



* Marked one to fourteen plus six ' muttered the 

 owner of the shooting-jacket, slo>vly putting down 

 the letter amongst the others, seating himself in the 

 arm-chair and swallowing the lion's half of the first 

 cup of coffee. ' Two days' notice " no ! not so 

 much ; not two " and twenty applications. Hmm ! ' 



Having delivered himself of this reflection with 

 that deliberate and abstracted utterance betokening 

 more thought than syllables, he gradually fell into a 

 posture the head upon the hand and the elbow on 

 the chair-arm which indicates that state of mind 

 deriving its name from the cloven footed-race who 

 patiently swallow things twice over, dining at one 

 hour and chewing at another, yclept Ruminating. 



' And so, my poor old Farm, I must now bid you 

 farewell. I who have taken your part through good 

 and ill report, know the course of every drain and 

 could find blindfold every weeping outflow that has 



