said Mr Pamphlett hea

elf in at 9.40 by the

premises, which his wi

p" to do th

lett's top-hat and walking-stick, helped him off with his black frock-coat, helped him on with t

said Mr Pamphlett, sl

to. Old England

leastways,

t always has. We mayn't wear uniforms"-Mr Pamphlett smoothed down

a fashion, but for his part, if it wasn't for the Missus, he was dying to enlist and have a slap at the Germans. Mr Pamphlett laughed and entered his private office. Here every morning he dealt with his cor

it first, wondering a little, pausing, as he broke the seal, to examine the post-marks. "Yesterday had been Bank Holiday. . . . But,

ll-to-do farmer, who dwelt some twelve miles inland. Here Mr Pamphlett, after punctual and ample meals, had gently stimulated digestion with hot brandy-and-water (which never comes amiss, even in August, if you happen to be connected with farming and have duly kept the Sabbath), and had sat with one leg crossed over the other, exchanging

equer took steps. Opposed as I am in a general way to the present Government, I am free to admit that, at this juncture, the Chancellor of the Exchequer realised his responsibilities and-er-took steps. Markets may-er- fluctuate for some weeks to come-may, as I would put it, exhibit a certain amount of-er-unsteadiness. But we shall tide that over, easily-as I am advised, quite e

ls you that way. You pick up more money-which is everything in these days-and you see the ships and yachts going to and fro, and so forth. But you can't breed ducks for table. Once th

h?" said Mr Pamphlett sharply as his nephew Obed, who had been sitting by and listening sulkily, made an impatient movement,-"But as I was going on to say, i

England," interposed Farmer

the surface of the mahogany table. "And I don't pretend to have the cleverer one. But I don't want the othe

ad picked up that resonant term at meetings of the Farmers'

we showed it,

Tory an' Pleasant?- that's my two best waggon-hosses," the farmer explained to his brother-in-law. "An' didn' he say as most likely he'd be over again, inside a fortni't, after light draught hosses for the Artillery? I don't murmur, for my part. We must all be prepared to make sacrifices in these times.

. "An' I don't see what you sacrificed either, over Tory an' Pleasant

ced nervously at his brother-in-law, who (as a town-dweller) held the monstrous belief that farmers enjoyed their share, and even a little more, of relief f

r Pamphlett, in the weighty periods of the "leading article" from which he had gathered this information, "it appears to us-I mean, to me- that our agricultural friends would be well advised, at this juncture, in considering the advisability, as well as the feas

hoss

ell, an' for my country's good I'm willin' enough, provided it can be done at a profit. Will Government guarantee that? . . . No, brother Pamphlett: what you say about you

a phrase is not everything: that "business as usual," while it might serve as a charm or formula against panic in the market-place, and even sustain in private many a doubting soul accustomed to take things on trust, was an incantation something less than adequate to calm the City of London, or the Bank directors and their confidential clerks, who maybe had been working in a frenzy through Sunday and Bank Holiday in their

onventional words, the receipt of certain ret

emises: Pol

ence to the above, t

etter of the 23rd ul

sent unsettled situa

rict watchfulness ove

ay be wise to defer t

until further notic

sted you with almost

sibly you may find i

matters as sugges

vi

fait

P. Sc

ng Dir

wn tenant, who paid nothing. He could turn Nanjivell out, and then-well, whenever the Bank chose to start building

r enough. One Retallack, a speculative builder, suggested a small increase on his overdra

doubtless aware th

the Banking Houses to

tensions of credit,

question of declinin

considering very c

unt. I will satisfy m

t delay.-I am, dear s

d Pam

na

rest of his correspondence. His spirit-in revulsion after his brief scare-soared almost to

for business

elf flatly incapable

as or how it worked.

bout the details. But

nd

cket of his frock-coat there a folded copy of The Western Morning News. There was something furtive

s, the "wanteds," the Court Circular, and any report there might happen to be of a colliery explosion (she specialised in colliery explosions: they appealed to her as combining violent death with darkness) before interviewing t

p his eye fell on a pa

ed and spent som

it when the door open

"Consols," and refolde

sir: at the side door. 'Says he

njivell! I've had eno

m I can't spare a mome

an, who hobbled forward

Nanjivell!" sai

nin',

hen you had my word on Satu

n't t

r I hardly suppose 'tis to

the fistful of coins, picked them out carefully, and laid them one by

asked the Bank Manager, afte

that to you?" de

no reply. Then he leaned forwar

hese happens to be a guinea-piece-a s

as a sovereign

: worth mo

r how I came by it, I came by it honest, an' that's enough. A ma

shall make out the receipt. But this doesn't i

orrow, if you'll let

e fair, the ejectment order still stands agains

you w

y will. If you take your receipt and clear out, I

d considered it curiously. It had a beautifully sharp impression, and might ha

eaded "Rise in Prices," and read it through, pausing now a

p and gave that good woman an order for groceries. The size of it almo

amphlett to himself complacently,