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which the whole creation moves’ before his brown acorn-wreath is laid low in the dust? To all these questionings my oak friend listened in silence, or not exactly in silence, but in soft wave-like reverberations, and I went on my way while he wafted me a friendly farewell.

“The Granbys were at home, and the largest daughter poured out tea. My heart sank as I watched her. She seized a jug of milk and distributed it amongst all the cups before her, as you would for a school treat or children’s picnic. The milk-jug was very large and the cups were very small; the result may be easily anticipated. She then took up an immense silver teapot, which might have served Britannia for a helmet at a pinch, and poured out a libation of some weak straw-coloured liquid, to call it by no harsher name. Then a second dose of cream, and a lump of sugar, and the deed was done. I secretly thanked my stars that Clare was not present, and meekly drank the milky-grey syrup and prosed away to my hostess as pleasantly as I could under the circumstances.

“In spite of a superabundance of mirrors, yellow satin, and engravings of the royal family, the large drawing-room at the Granbys is rather a pleasant place on a hot afternoon. Its three big windows were wide open and showed us