"Well, then, heads of households ought to have learnt their arithmetic better and remembered more of it. The children and I haven't allowed ourselves to be hindered by little obstacles of that kind." "What," I said, "are you and the children in it too?" "Yes, we're all in it. I've put in the spare money from the housekeeping----" "I always knew you got too much." "And the children have chipped in with their savings." "Savings?" I said. "How have they got any savings?" "Presents from affectionate godmothers and aunts, which were put into the Post Office Savings Bank. They're all out now and into the Loan--all, that is, except Frederick's little all." "And what's happened to that?" "That's put into War Certificates. It was his own idea. He was fascinated by the poster, and insisted that his money should go in the purchase of cartridges, so there it is." "And at the end of five years he'll get back £1 for every 15_s._ 6_d._ he's put in." "Yes, he'll get £5. He made a lot of difficulty about that." "You don't mean to say he jibbed about getting his money back?" "That's precisely what did happen. He said he'd _given_ the money for cartridge buying, and how could he take it back with a bit extra after the cartridges had been bought. He's really rather annoyed about it." "I shall tell him," I said, "not to let it worry him, and shall explain to him how much _per cent._ he's getting _per annum_." "You'll have to work it out yourself first of all," she said, "and I know you can't do that. And, by the way, you may as well be ready for him; he's going to ask you if he may join the Army as a drummer-boy." "What on earth's put that into his head?" "He's been talking to the Sergeant-Major, and he's invented a musical instrument of his own. It's made out of a cardboard box, some pins and two or three elastic bands. There it is--you'll find its name inscribed on it." I took it up and saw inscribed upon it in large pencilled letters this strange device: "THE TIPINBANOLA; made for soldiers only." "Francesca," I said, "it's a superb name. Where did he get it from?" "Out of his head," she said. "I wonder," I said, "if he keeps any arithmetic there?" "Ask him; I'm sure he'd be proud to help you." "No," I said, "I must plough my weary furrow alone." "And the guinea-hens," she said, "are still squawking." "Yes," I said, "isn't it awful?" "I'll go and stop them," she said. "It's no good," I said, "I shan't hear them stop." R.C.L. * * * * * [Illustration: THE MODERN RALEIGH.] * * * * * "If the ploughman is taken the farmer may as well put up his shutters."--_A farmer in "The Daily News."_ And if the shop-walker is taken, the tradesman may as well let his windows lie fallow. * * * * * [Illustration: _Officer_. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY FEEDING THAT HORSE BEFORE THE CALL SOUNDED?"