I considered.

“Veronica,” I said at last, “is there such a thing as Ireland in Fairyland?  Is there an exchange that won’t keep steady?  Is there any labour trouble?”

She shook her head.

“I’ve never heard of anyfing that sounded like those,” she said; “I’m sure there isn’t.”

“That decides it,” I said.  “We’ll all come.  As soon as you can possibly arrange it.”

She heaved a sigh of relief and ran off to tell the glad news to the butterflies and hollyhocks.

So that’s settled.

I think we’ve made a wise decision.

After all, what’s a witch or two, or even a temporary existence as a frog, compared with a coal strike?

* * * * *

THE WAIL OF THE WASP.

  When that I was a tiny grub,
  And peevish and inclined to blub,
          Mother, my Queen,
  My infant grief you would assuage
  With promise of the ripe greengage
          And purple sheen
        Of luscious plums,
        “When Autumn comes.”

  The Autumn days are flying fast;
  Across the bleak skies overcast
          Scurries the wind;
  Where are those plums of purple hue,
  Mother?  I only wish that you
          Had disciplined
        My pampered youth
        To face the truth.

  The time for wasps is nearly done,
  And what is life without the sun,
          Mother, my Queen? 
  Dull stupor numbs your royal head;
  Torpid my sisters lie—­or dead;
          Come, let me lean
        Back on my sting
        And end the thing.

* * * * *

SUGGESTIONS FOR A GENERAL PAPER.

(For the benefit of the Examiners in the Oxford School of English Literature.)

(1) Compare, in respect of pulpit oratory, (a) Dr. SOUTH with “WOODBINE WILLIE,” and (b) Dr. MICHAEL FURSE (Bishop of St. Albans) with the JUDICIOUS HOOKER.

(2) Give reasons in support of Mr. BEVERLEY NICHOLLS’ emendation of the lines in The Ancient Mariner—­

  The wedding guest he beat his breast,
    For he heard the proud SASSOON.

(3) Re-write “Tears, idle tears” in the style of (a) Dr. JOHNSON, (b) CALISTHENES, (c) the SITWELLS.

(4) What do you know of CASANOVA, KARSAVINA, CAGLIOSTRO, KENNEDY JONES, Captain PETER WRIGHT, EPSTEIN, ECKSTEIN and EINSTEIN?  When did Sir OLIVER LODGE say that he would not leave ein Stein unturned until he had upset the theory of Relativity?

(5) Give a complete list of all the poets, major and minor, at present residing on Boar’s Hill, and trace their influence on the Baconian controversy.

(6) Distinguish by psycho-analysis between (a) SYDNEY SMITH and SIDNEY LEE, (b) GEORGE MEREDITH and GEORGE ROBEY, noting convergences as well as divergences of mentality, physique and sub-conscious uplift.