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〃It was just before Sunday…school。 Her mother had dressed her all
in white muslin like a fairy； but she had stepped on the edge of a
puddle； and some of the muddy water had bespattered her frock。 A
circle of children had surrounded her； and some of the motherly
little girls were on their knees rubbing at the spots anxiously；
while one of them wiped away the tears that were running down her
pretty cheeks。 I looked！ It was fatal！ I did not look again； but
I was smitten to the very heart！ I did not speak to her for six
years； but when I did； it was all right with both of us； thank God！
and I've been in love with her ever since； when she behaves
herself！〃
That is the way they speak of love in Barbury Green； and oh！ how
much sweeter and more wholesome it is than the language of the
town！ Who would not be a Goose Girl； 〃to win the secret of the
weed's plain heart〃？ It seems to me that in society we are always
gazing at magic…lantern shows； but here we rest our tired eyes with
looking at the stars。
CHAPTER XI
July 16th。
Phoebe and I have been to a Hen Conference at Buffington。 It was
for the purpose of raising the standard of the British Hen； and our
local Countess； who is much interested in poultry； was in the
chair。
It was a very learned body； but Phoebe had coached me so well that
at the noon recess I could talk confidently with the members；
discussing the various advantages of True and Crossed Minorcas；
Feverels； Andalusians； Cochin Chinas； Shanghais； and the White
Leghorn。 （Phoebe； when she pronounces this word； leaves out the
〃h〃 and bears down heavily on the last syllable； so that it rhymes
with begone！）
As I was sitting under the trees waiting for Phoebe to finish some
shopping in the village； a travelling poultry…dealer came along and
offered to sell me a silver Wyandotte pullet and cockerel。 This
was a new breed to me and I asked the price； which proved to be
more than I should pay for a hat in Bond Street。 I hesitated；
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。