112 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



wood, and leads straight to the place where I 

 was concealed, so I went to meet them. 



" Good morning, John," says Harry, as soon 

 as he sees me. 



" Good morning, Harry," says I, politely. 



" I was just remarking/' says Harry, "What 

 a pity it is to cut down such nice, young oak 

 timber, just growing into money." Whereat 

 his two companions burst out laughing, think- 

 ing, no doubt, how nicely he was smoothing 

 me over. 



"You seem amused, my dear," he went on,, 

 pleasantly, addressing the maid, who had a nest 

 full of eggs in her hands. " She is so fond of 

 bird's eggs, John." This to me, of course. 

 They all laughed again at this, and I, nothing 

 loth, joined in. When I thought that they had 

 laughed enough, at my expense, I stepped up to 

 Harry, who was still on the grin, and said : 



"Yes, and so are you fond of bird's eggs, 

 aren't you? " 



In a moment his countenance changed, and 

 the grin grew ghastly, as he angrily asked what 

 I meant. 



