OF MR. BLENNERHASSETT 153 



use ? " he asked. I told him that lately I had 

 found a ginger quill no more inefficacious than 

 other patterns. " I haven't any," he said. " I'd 

 thank you for a couple." I gave him one, but 

 none the less he thanked me as he fastened it to 

 his gut. 



"You staying in this field?" he asked. I 

 said I was. It was evident to me that he knew 

 of the two-pounder. " Then," said he, with an 

 anxious glance towards the alder, " I'll be get- 

 ting on." 



I reminded him that he still had my matches. 



He took them from his pocket. Then he said: 

 " You live here, don't you ? " I said I did. 

 " Well," he said, " it would be very kind of you if 

 you'd let me have these. I'm far from home," he 

 added, with pathetic humour, "and matchless." 

 He was right. 



I said: " Please keep the box." He replaced it 

 in his pocket. "Thank you," he said, for the 

 third time. "A cigarette?" He opened a case 

 full of gold -tipped things. Now there is only one 

 cigarette. I declined his magnanimous offer. He 

 looked rather amazed, I thought. 



When he had gone quite away I left the 

 meadow and walked about two hundred yards to 

 old Mrs. Pescod's shop, where I got some matches. 

 Then I was able to smoke again. 



