"But they won't know they're a buffer, and they won't like it when some tactless person tells them. Anyhow, that's a long way off, and in the meantime we've got the land." "Who've got what land?" "Our Committee," said Francesca, "have got two acres of land from Mr. Carberry, and we're going to grow a crop of peas on it so that everybody may have pea-soup in case of a pinch." "But what about the peas?" I said, "Have you made sure of those?" "We had a good deal of trouble about them, but we've got a firm promise of six bushels." "Capital! But are you quite sure you know how to bring the land and the peas together?" "Well, I'm not so much of an expert as I should like to be, but Mr. Bolton 's a practical farmer, and he's going to do all he can for us." "Will he plough it?" "It's been ploughed twice, so he's undertaken to harrow it and scarify it--doesn't it sound awful?--and then something else is going to happen to it, but I forget what it's called." "Wouldn't it be a good thing, at some stage or other, to plant the peas?" "Yes, it would; but you can't do it as simply as all that, can you? Isn't there something highly agricultural that you must do first?" "I should chuck 'em in and chance it." "A nice farmer you'd make," she said scornfully. "I'm remembering it now. It's got something to do with drills." "Like the Volunteers?" "No, not a bit like the Volunteers." "Well, then, like potatoes." "Yes, more like potatoes, except that they're peas in this case." "How true," I said. "Yes. And don't forget that while you were away we formed a League of Honour in the village and bound ourselves to observe the FOOD CONTROLLER'S rations." "Am I a member?" "Yes, we thought you'd like to be one, so I gave your name in." "I think a man must pledge his own honour. He can't have it done for him." "There's no public ceremony. You can just pledge yourself in your mind, and then put a pledge card in one of the windows." "I'll have tea first," I said, "and then I'll choose the window, and then I'll pledge myself in my mind." "No, you can do the pledging now." "I've done it, while you were talking." "And after all it's only the old rations according to Lord DEVONPORT, and we've been working under them for some time now." "So we have," I said; "but of course the card in the window makes all the difference." R.C.L. * * * * * [Illustration: THE SERVANT PROBLEM. _Lady_. "AND WHY DID YOUR LAST MISTRESS----" _Applicant_ (_loftily_). "EXCUSE ME, MADAM!" _Lady_. "WELL--ER--YOUR LAST EMPLOYER----" _Applicant_. "I BEG YOUR PARDON, MADAM!" _Lady_. "WELL, THEN, YOUR LAST--ER--PRAY WHAT DO YOU CALL THOSE IN WHOSE SERVICE YOU ARE ENGAGED?" _Applicant_. "CLIENTS, MADAM." [_Collapse of interrogator_.]] * * * * * OUR MODEST CONTEMPORARIES.