he brown leather
is liable to shrink in the sun, and I was not unwilling to get back to
my slippers and stretch myself out on the sofa.

There is nothing like a long day in the country; quite apart from the
enjoyment, you feel that it is doing you so much good. I am sorry that
Eliza did not seem to enter into the spirit of the thing more.

THE MUSHROOM

We were at breakfast one morning in the summer when the girl entered
rather excitedly and said that to the best of her belief there was a
mushroom coming in the little lawn in front of the house. It seemed a
most extraordinary thing, and Eliza and I both went out to look at it.
There was certainly something white coming through the turf; the only
question was, whether or not it was a mushroom. The girl seemed certain
about it. "Why," she said, "in my last place mushrooms was frequent.
You see, being wealthy, they had anything they fancied. If I didn't
know about mushrooms, I ought to!" There is a familiarity in that
girl's manner which to my mind is highly objectionable. The
establishment where she was formerly employed was apparently on a scale
that we do not attempt. That does not justify her, however, in
continually drawing comparisons. I shall certainly have something to
say to her about it.

* * * * *

However, it was not about Jane that I intended to speak, but about the
mushroom.

Eliza said that I ought to put a flowerpot over the mushroom, because,
being visible from the road, some one might be tempted to come in and
steal it. But I was too deep for that. "No," I replied, "if you put an
inverted plant-pot there everybody will guess that you are hiding a
mushroom underneath it. Just put a scrap of newspaper over it."

"But that might get blown away!"

"Fasten down one corner of it with a hairpin."

Eliza said that I was certainly one to think of things. I believe there
is truth in that. On my way to the station I happened to meet Mr.
Bungwall's gardener (a most obliging and respectful man), and had a
word with him about the mushroom. He said that he would come round in
the evening and have a look at it.

* * * * *

I was pleased to find (on my return) that the mushroom was still in the
garden under the newspaper, and had increased slightly in size.

"This," I said to Eliza, "is very satisfactory."

"It would make a nice little present to send to mother," Eliz