it, holding as we do so many--er--threads?" Mr Pamphlett held up
his two hands, and spread them as though they contained a skein of
wool to be unwound. "But the Chancellor of the Exchequer took steps.
Opposed as I am in a general way to the present Government, I am free
to admit that, at this juncture, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
realised his responsibilities and--er--took steps. Markets may--er--
fluctuate for some weeks to come--may, as I would put it, exhibit a
certain amount of--er--unsteadiness. But we shall tide that over,
easily--as I am advised, quite easily. Great Britain's credit is
solid; that's the word, _solid_: and if that--er--solidarity holds
true of our monetary system with"--here Mr Pamphlett expanded and
contracted his fingers as if gathering gossamers--"its delicate and
far-reaching complexities. . . That was an excellent duck, James,"
said he, turning to his brother-in-law. "I don't remember when I've
tasted a better."

"Maria believes in basting, I thank God," said his brother-in-law,
Farmer Pearce acknowledging the compliment. "'Tis a more
enterprisin' life you lead by the sea, if your business calls you
that way. You pick up more money--which is everything in these
days--and you see the ships and yachts going to and fro, and so
forth. But you can't breed ducks for table. Once they get nigh to
tidal water, though it be but to the head of a creek, the flesh turns
fishy, and you can't prevent it. We must set it down to Natur', I
suppose. But inland ducks for me!"

"Maria has a great gift with the stuffing, too. . . . You're spoilt,
Ebenezer--and so too is Obed here--up in this fat of the land, though
you don't know it. Eh?" said Mr Pamphlett sharply as his nephew
Obed, who had been sitting by and listening sulkily, made an
impatient movement,--"But as I was going on to say, if we, that hold
(as I may put it) the threads of commerce in these times, believe in
sitting solid, why surely the same applies--only more so--to
agriculture."

"Which is the backbone of Old England," interposed Farmer Pearce,
"an' always has been."

"There's two ends to most backbones," put in young Obed, who had been
tracing patterns with his fingers on the surface of the mahogany
table. "And I don't pretend to have the cleverer one. But I don't
want the other to be kicked into doin' summat; which is what'll
happen to us farmin' chaps if we don't start enlistin'."

"The aggericultural community," per