A little chilled but nowise daunted, for she was sure the hay-box would come in somehow, Jeanne remained for some time plunged deep in thought. Then came light and her face grew radiant. Why not send the _auto-cuiseur_ filled with dry food? _Les Boches_ would surely give, or sell, some boiling water and let him just start cooking on their stove. And he would be able to use the cooker constantly, buying _des choses pas cheres_ to cook; and yes, why not slip into the package a copy of _Plats economiques_, the little cookery book whose recipes they had found so satisfactory? "Et mon cure?" But now the two figures merged more nearly than ever before into one, and Jeanne felt that _his_ first need was one with that of the soldier, and the _marmite_ would hold enough for both. "Mais _oui_," she exclaimed, "c'est cela!... Ecoute, Maman! Envoyons l'auto-cuiseur _aux deux_... Ne vois-tu pas que mon soldat pourra alors manger tous les jours un bon repas bien chaud, et que mon cure pourra en donner aux autres affames? C'est la tout juste l'affaire d'un cure. L'auto-cuiseur est comme ca deux cadeaux en un, comme mon soldat et mon cure sont deux hommes en un!" * * * * * "GERMANY IS STARVING.--THE REAL FACTS."--_Cassell's Magazine of fiction._ Not exclusively fiction, we trust. * * * * * From the Appendix to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Public Service in India:-- "The two last pensions depended entirely on the approval of Government, so that a man might retire after 85 years' service on Rs. 5000 pension only..." And not before he had deserved it. * * * * * "Deptford Borough Council will recommend to the authorities that considering the brief period of darkness in May, June, July, and August resulting from the daylight saving scheme, it is desirable to dispense with street lighting during these months except at dangerous street crossings."--_Daily Express._ Apparently by a slight amendment of the Summertime Act Great Britain might be transformed into the land of the Midnight Sun. * * * * * [Illustration: THE GREATER NEED. FLORA (_To Ceres._) "ENTER, AND TAKE MY PLACE. THIS IS YOUR YEAR."] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.