er--"

"Slow," said Dick thoughtfully; "that's really what I want. I want lots
of that."

"You must get Phyllis to bowl to you," I said with detachment. "You know,
I shouldn't be surprised if Lancashire--"

"My dear man, girls can't bowl. She fields jolly well, though."

"What about your father?"

"His bowling days are rather over. He was in the eleven, you know, thirty
years ago. So there's really nobody but--"

"One's bowling days soon get over," I hastened to agree.

But I know now exactly what the prospects of the season--or, at any rate,
of the first week of it--are.

MR. MALLORY

The prospects here are on the whole encouraging. To dwell upon the bright
side first, there will be half-an-hour's casual bowling, and an hour and
a half's miscellaneous coaching, every day. On the other hand, some of
his best plants will be disturbed, while there is more than a chance that
he may lose the services of a library window.

MRS. MALLORY

The prospects here are much as last year, except that her youngest born,
Joan, is now five, and consequently rather more likely to wander in the
way of a cricket ball or fall down in front of the roller than she was
twelve months ago. Otherwise Mrs. Mallory faces the approaching season
with calm, if not with complete appreciation.

DICK

Of Dick's prospects there is no need to speak at length. He will have two
hours' batting every day against, from a batsman's point of view, ideal
bowling, and in addition the whole-hearted admiration of all of us. In
short, the outlook here is distinctly hopeful.

PHYLLIS

The prospects of this player are, from her own point of view, bright, as
she will be allowed to field for two hours a day to the beloved Dick. She
is also fully qualified now to help with the heavy roller. A new
experiment is to be tried this season, and she will be allowed to bowl
for an odd five-minutes at the end of Dick's innings to _me_.

BOBBY

enters upon the coming season with confidence, as he thinks there is a
chance of my bowling to him too; but he is mistaken. As before, he will
be in charge of the heavy roller, and he will also be required to slacken
the ropes of the net at the end of the day. His prospects, however, are
certainly improved this season, as he will be qualified to bowl for the
whole two hours, but only on the distinct understanding (with Phyllis)
that he does his own fielding for himself.

Of the prospects of

JOAN

I have