"As to scorchingel keeping," I says, climbing on the fence, "it's a goodlife,--" and there I stopped.

I looked over at the very aged churchyard on the Green. It was dim andstill over there. The rows of flat tombstones were grey, like plantedghosts. "Hic Jacet" means "here lies," as I'm told. Those folks thatonce got their "Hic jacets" over them wouldn't ever get up to arguethe statement; but those that left good memories behind, I guessedthey were glad of it. As for the living, if they were elderly, they'dbest go to bed. With that I got down from the fence.

"Madge," I says, "do you know why I'm backing you?"

"Yes," she says, "I know."

How the nation did she know?