to the probable venue of the performance was rife, while its
style, length, value, etc., were all frankly discussed. Many
were the questions raised, and many the inaccurate explanations
accepted as to the reason of our being; but though my companion
came in for some inevitable discussion, I was relieved to find
that my panache and a comic peculiarity of gait, which I thought
it as well from time to time to affect, proved usefully
diverting.

When the crowd had begun to assume considerable proportions,
Judy had slipped her arm in mine, and an answering pressure to my
encouraging squeeze told me that she was trying to buck up as
well as she could. Good little Judy! It was an ordeal for you,
but you came through it with flying colours, though with a
flaming cheek.

When we reached the triangular piece of grass that lay in front
of the village inn, I called a halt with such suddeness as to
create great confusion in the swarming ranks that followed in
our wake. But while they sorted themselves, I slipped the booth
off my shoulders, gave one long, echoing call upon the reed, and,
striking an attitude, made ready to address the expectant
villagers.

After carefully polishing my nose with a silk handkerchief- an
action which met with instant approval- I selected a fat,
red-faced drayman, thanked him, and said that mine was a Bass, an
assertion which found high favour with the more immediate cronies
of the gentleman in question. Then I got to work.