"Francesca," I said, "are you not more than a little peevish this
morning?"

"I have no patience," she said, "with notices that have to be served.
It's always done by sanitary inspectors and rate collectors, and
people of that sort. Why can't they just post them and have done with
it?"

"Who are you," I said, "that you should fly in the face of Providence
in this way? Can't you see that if a notice is 'served,' it
immediately becomes twice as important?"

"Oh, if it adds to the dignity of an inspector, well and good; but for
my part I should have posted it."

"You are not a sanitary inspector, and cannot realise the feelings of
one."

"They have no feelings, and that's why they're made inspectors."

"Hush!" I said, and began to read:--

"'In pursuance of the directions given in an Act passed in the fifth
and sixth years of the reign of King William the Fourth, entitled "An
Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Highways in that
part of Great Britain called England," I, T. Bradish, of the Town
Hall, Smoltham, do hereby give you notice forthwith to cut, prune,
plash or lop certain Trees and Hedges overhanging the highway
immediately adjoining your premises, No. 15, East Gate, in the Parish