Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/46

 "I had to do something to make up for the ill behaviour of my watch."

"Mr. Jerrold, I give you my permission to bring the clock from your stable tower and wind it, if you will become a regular communicant."

"That's handsome of you, and I'll consider it," returned his host. "Have another scone, Ramsey. And you, Mr. Vale. That rascal, Sgiath, has eaten half of yours."

"Did you notice our Communion vessels?" asked Mr. Ramsey. "They are unusually beautiful. They were presented to the church by Queen Anne."

"I'm afraid I didn't. Everything was new to me, and I am very unobservant."

"I must let you examine them some day. The chasing is very beautiful."

"How is your poultry?" interrupted Mr. Jerrold.

"He has the most amazing White Wyandottes," said Miss Jerrold. "They always lay when our hens are either moulting, or setting, or just too fat. Hobbs can never get our Leghorns or Dorkings to lay like that."

"Yet he is always boasting about them," said Mr. Ramsey. "I never meet him but he has some record broken."

"Hobbs is a good man with cattle," declared Mr. Jerrold, "but he does not understand poultry as you do."

"They take a great deal of understanding, but they repay you in the end. Why, bless you, I don't know how I should make ends meet if it weren't for mine. I shipped forty-eight dozen eggs this week. At thirty cents a dozen that amounts to fourteen dollars and forty cents. Not bad, eh? Of course, the commission comes off that, still it's not bad. And I shall soon have some plump broilers ready."

"Poor little darlings," put in Miss Jerrold.

"Oh, but my dear young lady, we couldn't have those