As you ask for a suggestion from me, I propose an Archaeological Society.  The pursuit of Archaeology has this advantage:  it connotes digging, an aptitude for which has been distinctly fostered here by the allotment habit.

As for our objective, without going further than Filby there is the alleged tunnel leading from the ruins of the nunnery to no one knows where.  It would be interesting to know whether the thirteenth-century Lord of Filby had a private way (on the score of feudalities) to the Ursuline convent, or whether the good nuns had a back-way to the Old Swan for the conveyance of mead, sack and such other strong waters as the times and licensing laws afforded.  But perhaps the tunnel, like most things, is controlled, and a mandamus (which, I take it, is a kind of ecclesiastical coupon) would be required before we could touch it.

    Of course there are a mound and the foundations of an old wall in
    my paddock which the Society are welcome to tackle.  Don’t you think
    they would do to begin on?

    Yours sincerely,

    ARCHIBALD C. KNOTT.

MY DEAR KNOTT,—­Many thanks for your valuable help.  I think you may expect quite a good turn up of members on Tuesday.  I have always thought that the tumulus in your field might yield some interesting archaeological find.  The land and a former mansion were part of the Convent demesne, as you probably know.  I am sorry that I shall not be present as I have to attend the Bishop’s Conference at Bray Chester, which is expected to last a week or two.

    Wishing you all success and with kind regards to yourself and Mrs.
    Knott,

    I am,

    Yours ever sincerely,

    THEODORE BLAND.

    MY DEAR VICAR,—­Thanks for yours.  I am very sorry you have been
    called away at such a time.

    The first meeting was so successful that a second was fixed for
    Wednesday.  But enthusiasm seemed to flag on Wednesday evening, as
    nothing of interest had been discovered.

A few die-hards agreed to put in some hours’ digging on Thursday, when Colonel Stacey and Mrs. Cottingham each dug up a Roman bronze coin (both denarii, I fancy) from the mound.  This of course acted as a great stimulant, and we had a bumper meeting on Friday.  Stacey, I understand, intends to read a paper, at the first indoor meeting of the society, on the Roman occupation of Filby-in-the-Wold.  The mound is now levelled, and the wall foundations have all been dug up and carted away; but the latter yielded nothing of interest.

    Hoping that the Conference is going as you would wish,

    I am,

    Yours sincerely,

    ARCHIBALD C. KNOTT.

    P.S.—­Couldn’t you touch up the Bishop on the subject of the Convent
    tube?

DEAR VICAR,—­We have had an archaeological strike.  The mound is levelled, the wall foundations have disappeared, and so have the diggers.  I am afraid the Society are now awaiting your return to give them a lead.  My grounds, alas, have produced nothing beyond the two denarii.

    Yours sincerely,