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the way。 It would have been an unworthy meanness to have
wished to see the span of that brave old life shortened
by a few paltry months； but as the days sped by Emma was
conscious that the wish was there； disowned though it
might be； lurking at the back of her mind。
She felt the meanness of the wish come over her with
a qualm of self…reproach one day when she came into the
kitchen and found an unaccustomed state of things in that
usually busy quarter。 Old Martha was not working。 A
basket of corn was on the floor by her side； and out in
the yard the poultry were beginning to clamour a protest
of overdue feeding…time。 But Martha sat huddled in a
shrunken bunch on the window seat； looking out with her
dim old eyes as though she saw something stranger than
the autumn landscape。
〃Is anything the matter； Martha？〃 asked the young
woman。
〃'Tis death； 'tis death a…coming；〃 answered the
quavering voice； 〃I knew 'twere coming。 I knew it。
'Tweren't for nothing that old Shep's been howling all
morning。 An' last night I heard the screech…owl give the
death…cry； and there were something white as run across
the yard yesterday； 'tweren't a cat nor a stoat； 'twere
something。 The fowls knew 'twere something； they all
drew off to one side。 Ay； there's been warnings。 I knew
it were a…coming。〃
The young woman's eyes clouded with pity。 The old
thing sitting there so white and shrunken had once been a
merry； noisy child； playing about in lanes and hay…lofts
and farmhouse garrets； that had been eighty odd years
ago； and now she was just a frail old body cowering under
the approaching chill of the death that was coming at
last to take her。 It was not probable that much could be
done for her； but Emma hastened away to get assistance
and counsel。 Her husband； she knew； was down at a tree…
felling some little distance off； but she might find some
other intelligent soul who knew the old woman better than
she did。 The farm； she soon found out； had that faculty
common to farmyards of swallowing up and losing its human
population。 The poultry followed her in interested
fashion； and swine grunted interrogations at her from
behind the bars of their styes； but barnyard and
rickyard； orchard and stables and dairy； gave no reward
to her search。 Then； as she retraced her steps towards
the kitchen； she came suddenly on her cousin； young Mr。
Jim； as every one called him； who divided his time
between amateur horse…dealing； rabbit…shooting； and
flirting with the farm maids。
〃I'm afraid old Martha is dying；〃 said Emma。 Jim
was not the sort of person to whom one had to break news
gently。
〃Nonsense；〃 he said； 〃Martha means to live to a
hundred。 She told me so； and she'll do it。〃
〃She may be actually dying at this moment； or it may
just be the beginning of the break…up；〃 persisted Emma；
with a feeling of contempt for the slowness and dulness
of the young man。
A grin spread over his good…natured features。
〃It don't look like it；〃 he said； nodding towards
the yard。 Emma turned to catch the meaning of his
remark。 Old Martha stood in the middle of a mob of
poultry scattering handfuls of grain around her。 The
turkey…cock； with the bronzed sheen of his feathers and
the purple…red of his wattles； the gamecock； with the
glowing metallic lustre of his Eastern plumage； the hens；
with their ochres and buffs and umbers and their scarlet
combs； and the drakes； with their bottle…green heads；
made a medley of rich colour； in the centre of which the
old woman looked like a withered stalk standing amid a
riotous growth of gaily…hued flowers。 But she threw the
grain deftly amid the wilderness of beaks； and her
quavering voice carried as far as the two people who were
watching her。 She was still harping on the theme of
death coming to the farm。
〃I knew 'twere a…coming。 There's been signs an'
warnings。〃
〃Who's dead； then； old Mother？〃 called out the young
man。
〃'Tis young Mister Ladbruk；〃 she shrilled back；
〃they've just a…carried his body in。 Run out of the way
of a tree that was coming down an' ran hisself on to an
iron post。 Dead when they picked un up。 Aye； I knew
'twere coming。〃
And she turned to fling a handful of barley at a
belated group of guinea…fowl that came racing toward her。
* * * *
The farm was a family property； and passed to the
rabbit…shooting cousin as the next…of…kin。 Emma Ladbruk
drifted out of its history as a bee that had wandered in
at an open window might flit its way out again。 On a
cold grey morning she stood waiting； with her boxes
already stowed in the farm cart； till the last of the
market produce should be ready； for the train she was to
catch was of less importance than the chickens and butter
and eggs that were to be offered for sale。 From where
she stood she could see an angle of the long latticed
window that was to have been cosy with curtains and gay
with bowls of flowers。 Into her mind came the thought
that for months； perhaps for years； long after she had
been utterly forgotten； a white； unheeding face would be
seen peering out through those latticed panes； and a weak
muttering voice would be heard quavering up and down
those flagged passages。 She made her way to a narrow
barred casement that opened into the farm larder。 Old
Martha was standing at a table trussing a pair of
chickens for the market stall as she had trussed them for
nearly fourscore years。
THE LULL
I'VE asked Latimer Springfield to spend Sunday with
us and stop the night；〃 announced Mrs。 Durmot at the
breakfast…table。
〃I thought he was in the throes of an election；〃
remarked her husband。
〃Exactly； the poll is on Wednesday； and the poor man
will have worked himself to a shadow by that time。
Imagine what electioneering must be like in this awful
soaking rain； going along slushy country roads and
speaking to damp audiences in draughty schoolrooms； day
after day for a fortnight。 He'll have to put in an
appearance at some place of worship on Sunday morning；
and he can come to us immediately afterwards and have a
thorough respite from everything connected with politics。
I won't let him even think of them。 I've had the picture
of Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament taken down
from the staircase； and even the portrait of Lord
Rosebery's 'Ladas' removed from the smoking…room。 And
Vera；〃 added Mrs。 Durmot； turning to her sixteen…year…old
niece； 〃be careful what colour ribbon you wear in your
hair； not blue or yellow on any account； those are the
rival party colours； and emerald green or orange would be
almost as bad； with this Home Rule business to the fore。〃
〃On state occasions I always wear a black ribbon in
my hair；〃 said Vera with crushing dignity。
Latimer Springfield was a rather cheerless； oldish
young man； who went into politics somewhat in the spirit
in which other people might go into half…mourning。
Without being an enthusiast； however； he was a fairly
strenuous plodder； and Mrs。 Durmot had been reasonably
near the mark in asserting that he was working at high
pressure over this election。 The restful lull which his
hostess enforced on him was decidedly welcome； and yet
the nervous excitement of the contest had too great a
hold on him to be totally banished。
〃I know he's going to sit up half the night working
up points for his final speeches；〃 said Mrs。 Durmot
regretfully； 〃however； we've kept politics at arm's
length all the afternoon and evening。 More than that we
cannot do。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Vera； but she said
it to herself。
Latimer had scarcely shut his bedroom door before he
was immersed in a sheaf of notes and pamphlets； while a
fountain…pen and pocket…book were brought into play for
the due marshalling of useful facts and discreet
fictions。 He had been at work for perhaps thirty…five
minutes； and the house was seemingly consecrated to the
healthy slumber of country life； when a stifled squealing
and scuffling in the passage was followed by a loud tap
at his door。 Before he had time to answer； a much…
encumbered Vera burst into the room with the question； 〃I
say； can I leave these here？〃
〃These〃 were a small black pig and a lusty specimen
of black…red gamecock。
Latimer was moderately fond of animals； and
particularly interested in small livestock rearing from
the economic point of view； in fact； one of the pamphlets
on which he was at that moment engaged warmly advocated
the further development of the pig and poultry industry
in our rural districts； but he was pardonably unwilling
to share even a commodious bedroom with samples of
henroost and stye products。
〃Wouldn't they be hap