Jeffery Farnol

“ Indeed, I am as full of suppressed energy, these days, as Adam is of the ‘Old Adam.’ And, talking of Adam reminds me that he has solemnly pledged himself to initiate me into the mysteries of swinging a scythe to-morrow morning at—five o’clock! Yes indeed, my heart bounds responsive to the swish of a scythe in thick grass, and my soul sits enraptured upon a pitch-fork. ”

“ So there was silence while Anthea stared away across the golden corn-fields, yet saw nothing of them, and Bellew looked upon those slender, capable fingers, that had faltered in their plaiting and stopped. And thus, upon the silence there broke a sudden voice shrill with interest:
“Go on, Uncle Porges,—what about the dragons? Oh, please go on!—there’s always dragons in ’chanted castles, you know, to guard the lovely Princess,—aren’t you going to have any dragons that hiss, you know, an’ spit out smoke, an’ flames? Oh!—do please have a dragon.” ”

“ Cassilis, stifling a yawn, and turning towards Miss Anthea with the very slightest shrug of his shoulders.
“And, in Dapplemere,” concluded Bellew, solemnly, “I have, at last, found my ideal—”
“Goose-berry!” added Anthea with a laugh in her eyes.
“Arcadia being a lend of ideals!” nodded Bellew.
“Ideals,” said Mr. Cassilis, caressing his moustache, “ideals and—ah—goose-berries,—though probably excellent things in themselves, are apt to pall upon one, in time; personally, I find them equally insipid,—”
“Of course it is all a matter of taste!” sighed Bellew. ”