grown impatient of a large piece of crust and thrust it bodily
into my mouth. But although articulation at this interesting
juncture was out of the question, I laid an eloquent hand upon
her arm and crowded as much expression as I could into a swollen
and distorted visage. She glanced at me and collapsed in silent
infectious laughter. And so it happened that, while we two
conspirators lay shaking in the bracken, her friends turned their
car wonderingly round and drove slowly back into the village away
from her they sought.

Another hour and a half of somewhat desultory rehearsal found us
'wootle' perfect and ready for anything. So we laid the puppets
by, fed Toby with brown bread and tongue, and rested against the
labours of the afternoon.

The time passed quickly enough- too quickly.



It was a few minutes past one when, having adjusted my mask and
slid my nose into position, I got the booth upon my shoulders
and stepped out into the road.

"Come along," I said encouragingly.

"I'm afraid. Oh, there's something coming."

"Nonsense! I wish I hadn't packed that bludgeon."

"I'm nervous, Punch."