Barry Pain

“ I ought to have told you that Peter had a great reputation as a wit. I did say that, didn't I? Did I tell you that Sir Charles kept pea-fowls? Well, the under-gardener, seeing them coming——"
"What under-gardener? Seeing whom?"
"Sir Charles's under-gardener, seeing the fowls. I remember now; I hadn't told you about the fowls getting out. Every now and then, you know, they did get out, and, upon my soul, I don't blame them! ”

“ I think you'll say it's one of the funniest you ever came across!"
"No, Borstone," I said; "I haven't heard it. But I'm catching a train! Will you have time?"
"Oh, yes! It's quite a short story! I'll walk with you to the station, and tell it as I go. You must know that old Sir Charles Ambley (you've heard of him, of course) used to keep pea-fowls. He didn't keep them actually in the garden, but quite near the garden, in one of those wire-netting enclosures; you must have seen the sort of thing I mean. We never kept fowls at home ourselves. ”

“ I believe my father would rather have liked it, but when you come to go into the arithmetic of the thing you'll find there's more expense than profit about it. Not that that was the only objection. You see, an aunt of mine was living in the house, and she was always a light sleeper. ”