CAREFUL WIVES 303 



well forward of the line of guns ; and as the colonel 

 was never seen to add to the bag, we asked for an 

 explanation. "Well, ye see, it be like this 'ere," 

 came the answer. " I knows as 'e can't shoot, and 

 'e knows it ; but I knows and 'e knows that if 'e be 

 put forward 'e be likely to get a shot at a rabbit what's 

 stopped to think. And 'e knows that I knows that 

 'e will pay somethink 'andsome when 'e can go 'ome 

 an' tell 'is missus as 'ow 'e ain't bin an' disgraced 

 'isself agin. So I puts 'im forward ; and every time 

 'e shoots a rabbit what's stopped to think, it reminds 

 'e of I." 



With many gamekeepers we have known many game- 

 keepers' wives. Strong-minded, capable women as 

 they are, most keepers are wise enough to 

 Wiv^es* re g ar d them as Ministers of Finance, re- 

 ligiously handing over all their gain in coins. 

 A shilling a week, perhaps, is handed back again by 

 way of pocket-money, besides an allowance of 'baccy, 

 out of housekeeping funds. We have known more 

 than one keeper who never would have had a shilling 

 had it not been for his wife ; and we have known 

 more than one keeper's wife who would never fail 

 to keep her hand on every shilling that her good- 

 man brought home. 



