were
beginning to be a little forced. As I passed along the crowded street,
walking slowly and withdrawn into the quiet of my soul, three people
trod upon my heels and a taxi nearly gave me a passport to eternity. I
reflected that men were perhaps not yet ready for these doctrines of
infinite peace. How much more wise were the animals--and I raised my
hand to stroke a huge dray-horse by the pavement. He seized my fingers
in his teeth and nipped them vigorously.

I gave a yell and ran full tilt to the nearest subway entrance. I burst
into the mass of struggling, unphilosophic humanity and fought, shoved,
cursed, and buffeted with them. I pushed three old ladies to one side to
snatch my ticket before they could get theirs. I leaped into the car at
the head of a flying wedge of sinful, unmystical men, who knew nothing
of infinite beauty and peace. As the door closed I pushed a decrepit
clergyman outside, and I hope he fell on the third rail. As I felt the
lurching, trampling, throttling jam of humanity sway to and fro with the
motion of the car, I drew a long breath. Dare I confess it?--I was
perfectly happy!

AN OXFORD LANDLADY

It was a crisp October afternoon, and along Iffley Road the wind was
chivvying the yellow leaves. We stood at the window watching the
flappers opposite play hockey. One of them had a scarlet tam-o'-shanter
and glorious dark hair underneath it.... A quiet tap at the door, gentle
but definite, and in came Mrs. Beesley.

If you have been at our digs, you know her by sight, and have not
forgotten. Hewn of the real imperial marble is she, not unlike Queen
Victoria in shape and stature. She tells us she used to dance featly and
with abandon in days gone by, when her girlish slimness was the
admiration of every greengrocer's assistant in Oxford--and even in later
days when she and Dr. Warren always opened the Magdalen servants' ball
together. She and the courtly President were always the star couple. I
can see her doing the Sir Roger de Coverley. But the virgin zone was
loosed long ago, and she has expanded with the British Empire. Not
rotund, but rather imposingly cubic. Our hallway is a very narrow one,
and when you come to visit us of an evening, after red-cheeked Emily
has gone off to better tilting grounds, it is a prime delight to see
Mrs. Beesley backing down the passage (like a stately canal boat) before
the advancing guest. Very large of head and very pink of cheek, very
fond of a b