Peter.

"And meanwhile they get the bread, crumbs," she said.

"They certainly get the bread-crumbs," he admitted.

"I 'm afraid "--she smiled, as one who has conducted a
syllogism safely to its conclusion--"I 'm afraid I do not think
your compensation compensates."

"To be quite honest, I daresay it does n't," he confessed.

"And anyhow"--she followed her victory up--"I should not wish
my garden to represent the universal war. I should not wish my
garden to be a battle-field. I should wish it to be a retreat
from the battle--an abode of peace--a happy valley--a sanctuary
for the snatched-from."

"But why distress one's soul with wishes that are vain?" asked
he. "What could one do?"

"One could keep a dragon," she answered promptly. "If I were
you, I should keep a sparrow-devouring, finch-respecting
dragon."

"It would do no good," said he. "You'd get rid of one species
of snatcher, but some other species of snatcher would instantly
pop UP."

She gazed at him with those amused eyes of hers, and still