COMMUTER'S WIFE 45 



myself ; " in fact, too much so for our needs, but not 

 in gardening. You weren't thinking of employing 

 him to catalogue your books, I suppose ? " I ventured. 



Then father laughed heartily to cover a certain 

 confusion that told me plainly that he entertained 

 Quixotic views of Chris's capabilities of education, 

 and stammered : 



" My dear, he can write like copper plate ! " 



" Were the vegetables good last summer ? " I 

 continued frostily. " There seems to be very little 

 over in the root cellar." 



" No, not very, but er, you see it was first dry 

 and then wet quite wet." 



" Why have the grape vines been allowed to tumble 

 off the arbour and lie on the ground ? " 



"Chris said the string I bought was poor." 



"Why isn't the celery banked yet?" 



"He says the new way is to let it get a touch 

 of frost firi;t." 



"Is he cheap?" 



"Barbara, my child, you know I never beat 

 down the price of labour." 



"Of what use is Chris?" 



"He has some good points, and er we must 

 have some one, for Tim has all he can do to fol- 

 low me about and keep horses and stable in trim." 



