"I am going to nurse it back to health and strength," said Walter. "It only requires a little close attention. I shall be happy if you will call in about a week's time to enquire. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to have met you." And Walter held out his hand.
Well, that is where the matter rests. If Walter can keep the bird alive the case against him falls to the ground. If not, I suppose it means a three-pound licence and a ten-pound fine. He took him straight back to the Home Farm and secured for him dry and airy quarters in the poultry run, and did not leave him till he had seen to his comfort in every way and given minute directions as to his treatment....
I am afraid the old cock passed a rather restless night, but he was able to take part of a warm mash, with two drops of laudanum in it, at an early hour this morning. At this moment I hear Walter getting out his motor-bicycle. I fancy he is going for the vet.
"There is a journal in London which has the impertinence to call itself _The Nation_, but ... it does not represent the merest fraction of our countrymen."
Mr. SHORTER's own paper is called, more modestly, _The Sphere_.
[Illustration: THE FUTURE OF BRITISH BOXING.
_Rough_ (_to policeman who has knocked him down_). "WELL, IT'S WORF IT. TO ME BELONGS THE CREDIT OF 'AVIN' DISCOVERED A BLOOMIN' WHITE 'OPE."]
[Illustration: GETTING USED TO THE "SMILING EXPRESSION."
OUR SUGGESTION FOR A SYSTEM OF ADVANCED PHYSICAL TRAINING FOR PRUSSIAN OFFICERS BEFORE TAKING UP COMMANDS IN THE ALSATIAN DISTRICT, WHERE THE POPULACE IS SAID TO BE ADDICTED TO HUMOUR.]
I was in the train because I had to go to Birmingham; I was in the dining car because I had to dine. With all respect to the Company I cannot pretend that I regarded myself as doing anything remarkable or distinguished. The little man opposite me, however, felt differently. I have since been told that they of Birmingham are very proud of their non-stop train service by both routes.
"This, Sir," said the stranger, as I lowered my paper to help myself to a proffered roll--"this is one of the Two-Hour trains."
"You don't say," said I politely but not encouragingly.
"Indeed? Two whole hours and not a moment less?" and I returned to my paper pending the soup's arrival.