cretary and local distributors--which looks to me as if the whole
business was cut-and-dried."

"There's nothing cut an' dried about _me_, ma'am." Farmer Best's
sharp little eyes twinkled, and he chuckled obesely.

"Again Mrs Polsue has the right of it," answered the Vicar.
"Perhaps I should have explained at the beginning that this War,
coming upon us so suddenly, has taken the S.S.F.A. somewhat at
unawares, in Cornwall at any rate. The machinery exists--in
skeleton; but there still wants the _personnel_ to work it.
In our District, for instance--"

"District?" snapped Mrs Polsue. "What's a District?"

The Vicar pulled a wry face. "The Districts at present correspond
with the Deaneries in the diocese."

"O-oh, indeed? Ha!"

"There is worse to come, Mrs Polsue." He laughed frankly.
"You asked, 'Who are the local distributors?' A present rule of the
Association--which I beg you to believe that I regret--provides for
two agents in each parish, to report and advise on cases: the Parson,
and one of the Guardians."

"--And that's me, ma'am. _Honk!_" added Farmer Best. "I'm what
Parson called the skelliton of the machinery." He wound up with a
wink at the company, and a wheezy laugh.

"You may titter, all of you!" Mrs Polsue glared about her. "But if
ever there was hole-and-corner sectarianism in this world--And _this_
is what we've come to listen to!"

"You han't done much listenin' up to now, ma'am."

"Forgive me," Mrs Steele interposed, as Dr Mant looked at his watch.
"I don't know much about rules of the chair; but I really think you
are all out of order. We are not yet discussing the Association or
its rules, but whether or not we shall form a Committee to look after
these poor people until something better is done for them.
We in this room, at all events, belong to very different
denominations. I--I hope we meet only as Christians."

Farmer Best slapped his thigh. "Bray-vo, ma'am! and you never spoke
a truer word."

"I only wish to add," the Vicar persisted, "that before any outside
society works in this parish, I shall urge very strongly that the
parish nominates its agents: and that I hope to have the pleasure of
proposing Mrs Polsue and Mr Hambly. One more word--"

"Certainly not." His wife cut him short with a sharp rap on the
table. "I can rule _you_ out of order, at all events!"

Everybody laughed. Even Mrs Polsue was mollified. "Well, I managed
to drag the truth out at last,"