cks out Judy
with a left hook. To him, gloating, enter constable. It seems Judy's
knock-out more serious than usual. Constable suggests that Punch shall
go quietly. Punch does not see it, and retires to fetch persuader.
Constable protests and is persuaded. (Laughter.) Enter ghost--not
clear whose ghost, but any ghost in a storm. Punch unnerved. Ghost
gibbers. Punch more unnerved. Ghost gibbers again. Punch terrified.
Exit ghost and enter hangman, to whom Punch, unstrung by recent
encounter with apparition, falls an easy prey. Curtain. You bow from
the mouth of the booth. I adjust nose and collect money in diminutive
tin pail. How's that?"

"Lovely, Punch! But where does Toby dear come in?"

At the mention of his name the terrier rose and went to her. His
mistress stroked his soft head.

"In the background," said I. "Or the offing (nautical). I don't think
he'd better act. Let him be stage-door-keeper."

"All right. Now open the puppet-box."

It was a nice set of puppets, and they were very simple to manipulate.
They fitted easily on to the hand, the forefinger controlling the head,
and the thumb and second finger the arms. The old fellow's cudgel was
a dream.

We decided that I had better stick to Punch and Punch alone. For the
others she would be answerable.

After rehearsing for half an hour, we stopped for breakfast. In the
absence of cutlery, it was a ragged meal, but what mattered that? We
were for letting the world slip--we should ne'er be younger.

People were stirring now. Carts rumbled in the distance, and cars sang
past on the long, white road. Presently came one that slowed and
slowed and stopped.

It was unfortunate that, but a moment before, I should have grown
impatient of a large piece of crust and thrust it bodily into my mouth.
But although articulation at this interesting juncture was out of the
question, I laid an eloquent hand upon her arm and crowded as much
expression as I could into a swollen and distorted visage. She glanced
at me and collapsed in silent infectious laughter. And so it happened
that, while we two conspirators lay shaking in the bracken, her friends
turned their car wonderingly round and drove slowly back into the
village away from her they sought.

Another hour and a half of somewhat desultory rehearsal found us
'wootle' perfect and ready for anything. So we laid the puppets by,
fed Toby with brown bread and tongue, and rested against the l