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thinking meantime what a delightful parting gift they would be for
Phoebe； I mean if we ever should part； which seems more and more
unlikely； as I shall never leave Thornycroft until somebody comes
properly to fetch me； indeed； unless the 〃fetching〃 is done
somewhat speedily I may decline to go under any circumstances。 My
indecision as to the purchase was finally banished when the
poultryman asserted that the fowls had clear open centres all over；
black lacing entirely round the white centres； were free from white
edging； and each had a cherry…red eye。 This catalogue of charms
inflamed my imagination； though it gave me no mental picture of a
silver Wyandotte fowl； and I paid the money while the dealer
crammed the chicks； squawking into my five…o'clock tea…basket。
The afternoon session of the conference was most exciting； for we
reached the subject of imported eggs； an industry that is assuming
terrifying proportions。 The London hotel egg comes from Denmark；
it seems；I should think by sailing vessel； not steamer； but I may
be wrong。 After we had settled that the British Hen should be
protected and encouraged； and agreed solemnly to abstain from
Danish eggs in any form； and made a resolution stating that our
loyalty to Queen Alexandra would remain undiminished； we argued the
subject of hen diet。 There was a great difference of opinion here
and the discussion was heated； the honorary treasurer standing for
pulped mangold and flint grit； the chair insisting on barley meal
and randans； while one eloquent young woman declared； to loud cries
of 〃'Ear； 'ear！〃 that rice pudding and bone chips produce more eggs
to the square hen than any other sort of food。 Impassioned orators
arose here and there in the audience demanding recognition for beef
scraps； charcoal； round corn or buckwheat。 Foods were regarded
from various standpoints： as general invigorators； growth
assisters； and egg producers。 A very handsome young farmer carried
off final honours； and proved to the satisfaction of all the
feminine poultry…raisers that green young hog bones fresh cut in
the Banner Bone Breaker （of which he was the agent） possessed a
nutritive value not to be expressed in human language。
Phoebe was distinctly nervous when I rose to say a few words on
poultry breeding； announcing as my topic 〃Mothers； Stepmothers；
Foster…Mothers； and Incubators。〃 Protected by the consciousness
that no one in the assemblage could possibly know me； I made a
distinct success in my maiden speech； indeed； I somewhat overshot
the mark； for the Countess in the chair sent me a note asking me to
dine with her that evening。 I suppressed the note and took Phoebe
away before the proceedings were finished； vanishing from the scene
of my triumphs like a veiled prophet。
Just as we were passing out the door we paused to hear the report
of a special committee whose chairman read the following
resolutions：…
WHEREAS；It has pleased the Almighty to remove from our midst our
greatest Rose Comb Buff Orpington fancier and esteemed friend；
Albert Edward Sheridain； therefore be it
RESOLVED；That the next edition of our catalogue contain an
illustrated memorial page in his honour and
RESOLVED；That the Rose Comb Buff Orpington Club extend to the
bereaved family their heartfelt sympathy。
The handsome young farmer followed us out to our trap； invited us
to attend the next meeting of the R。 C。 B。 O。 Club； of which he was
the secretary； and asked if I were intending to 〃show。〃 I
introduced Phoebe as the senior partner； and she concealed the fact
that we possessed but one Buff Orpington； and he was a sad
〃invaleed〃 not suitable for exhibition。 The farmer's expression as
he looked at me was almost lover…like； and when he pressed a bit of
paper into my hand I was sure it must be an offer of marriage。 It
was in fact only a circular describing the Banner Bone Breaker。 It
closed with an appeal to Buff Orpington breeders to raise and ever
raise the standard； bidding them remember； in the midst of a low…
minded and sordid civilisation； that the rose comb should be small
and neat； firmly set on； with good working； a nice spike at the
back lying well down to head； and never； under any circumstances；
never sticking up。 This adjuration somewhat alarmed us as Phoebe
and I had been giving our Buff Orpington cockerel the most drastic
remedies for his languid and prostrate comb。
Coming home we alighted from the trap to gather hogweed for the
rabbits。 I sat by the wayside lazily and let Phoebe gather the
appetising weed； which grows along the thorniest hedges in close
proximity to nettles and thistles。
Workmen were trudging along with their luncheon…baskets of woven
bulrushes slung over their shoulders。 Fields of ripening grain lay
on either hand； the sun shining on their every shade of green and
yellow； bronze and orange； while the breeze stirred the bearded
barley into a rippling golden sea。
Phoebe asked me if the people I had left behind at the Hydropathic
were my relatives。
〃Some of them are of remote consanguinity；〃 I responded evasively；
and the next question was hushed upon her awe…stricken tongue； as I
intended。
〃They are obeying my wish to be let alone； there's no doubt of
that；〃 I was thinking。 〃For my part； I like a little more spirit；
and a little less 〃letter〃！〃
As the word 〃letter〃 flitted through my thoughts； I pulled one from
my pocket and glanced through it carelessly。 It arrived； somewhat
tardily； only last night； or I should not have had it with me。 I
wore the same dress to the post…office yesterday that I wore to the
Hen Conference to…day； and so it chanced to be still in the pocket。
If it had been anything I valued； of course I should have lost or
destroyed it by mistake； it is only silly； worthless little things
like this that keep turning up and turning up after one has
forgotten their existence。
〃You are a mystery！〃 ＇it ran。＇ 〃I can apprehend； but not
comprehend you。 I know you in part。 I understand various bits of
your nature； but my knowledge is always fragmentary and
disconnected； and when I attempt to make a whole of the mosaics I
merely get a kaleidoscopic effect。 Do you know those geographical
dissected puzzles that they give to children？ You remind me of one
of them。
〃I have spent many charming （and dangerous） hours trying to 〃put
you together〃； but I find； when I examine my picture closely； that
after all I've made a purple mountain grow out of a green tree；
that my river is running up a steep hillside； and that the pretty
milkmaid； who should be wandering in the forest； is standing on her
head with her pail in the air
〃Do you understand yourself clearly？ Or is it just possible that
when you dive to the depths of your own consciousness； you
sometimes find the pretty milkmaid standing on her head？ I
wonder！〃 。 。 。
Ah； well； it is no wonder that he wonders！ So do I； for that
matter！
CHAPTER XII
July 17th。
Thornycroft Farm seems to be the musical centre of the universe。
When I wake very early in the morning I lie in a drowsy sort of
dream； trying to disentangle； one from the other； the various bird
notes； trills； coos； croons； chirps； chirrups； and warbles。
Suddenly there falls on the air a delicious； liquid； finished song；
so pure； so mellow； so joyous； that I go to the window and look out
at the morning world； half awakened； like myself。
There is I know not what charm in a window that does not push up；
but opens its lattices out into the greenness。 And mine is like a
little jewelled door； for the sun is shining from behind the
chimneys and lighting the tiny diamond panes with amber flashes。
A faint delicate haze lies over the meadow； and rising out of it；
and soaring toward the blue is the lark； flinging out that
matchless matin song； so rich； so thrilling； so lavish！ As the
blithe melody fades away； I hear the plaintive ballad…fragments of
the robin on a curtsying branch near my window； and there is always
the liquid pipe of the thrush； who must quaff a fairy goblet of dew
between his songs； I should think； so fresh and eternally young is
his note。
There is another beautiful song that I follow whenever I hear it；
straining my eyes to the treetops； yet never finding a bird that I
can identify as the singer。 Can it be the …
〃Ousel…cock so black of hue；
With orange…tawny bill〃？
He is called the poet…laureate of the primrose time； but I don't
know whether he sings in midsummer； and I have not seen him
hereabouts。 I must write and ask my dear Man of the North。 The
Man of the North； I sometimes think； had a Fairy Grandmother who
was a robin； and perhaps she made a nest of fresh moss and put him
in the green wood when he was a wee bairnie； so that he waxed wise
in bird…lore without knowing it。 At all events； describe to him
the cock of a head； the glance of an eye； the tip…up of a tail； or
the sheen of a feather； and he will name you the bird。 Near…
sighted he is； too； the Man of the North； but that is only for
people。
The Square Baby and I have a new game。
I bought a doll's table and china tea…set in Buffington。 We put it
under an apple…tree in the s