in two minds to inform on Jack for maintaining the mummeries of the
falsely called Church, which, I'll prove to you, are founded merely on
ancient fables----'

'Stick to your herbs and planets,' said Puck, laughing. 'You should have
told the magistrates, Nick, and had Jack fined. Again, why did you
neglect your plain duty?'

'Because--because I was kneeling, and praying, and weeping with the rest
of 'em at the altar rails. In medicine this is called the Hysterical
Passion. It may be--it may be.'

'That's as may be,' said Puck. They heard him turn the hay. 'Why, your
hay is half hedge-brishings,' he said. 'You don't expect a horse to
thrive on oak and ash and thorn leaves, do you?'

* * * * *

_Ping-ping-ping_ went the bicycle bell round the corner. Nurse was
coming back from the Mill.

'Is it all right?' Una called.

'All quite right,' Nurse called back. 'They're to be christened next
Sunday.'

'What? What?' They both leaned forward across the half-door. It could
not have been properly fastened, for it opened, and tilted them out with
hay and leaves sticking all over them.

'Come on! We must get those two twins' names,' said Una, and they
charged up-hill shouting over the hedge, till Nurse slowed up and told
them.

When they returned, old Middenboro had got out of his stall, and they
spent a lively ten minutes chasing him in again by starlight.

'OUR FATHERS OF OLD'

Excellent herbs had our fathers of old--
Excellent herbs to ease their pain--
Alexanders and Marigold,
Eyebright, Orris, and Elecampane,
Basil, Rocket, Valerian, Rue,
(Almost singing themselves they run)
Vervain, Dittany, Call-me-to-you--
Cowslip, Melilot, Rose of the Sun.
Anything green that grew out of the mould
Was an excellent herb to our fathers of old.

Wonderful tales had our fathers of old--
Wonderful tales of the herbs and the stars--
The Sun was Lord of the Marigold,
Basil and Rocket belonged to Mars.
Pat as a sum in division it goes--
(Every plant had a star bespoke)--
Who but Venus should govern the Rose?
Who but Jupiter own the Oak?
Simply and gravely the facts are told
In the wonderful books of our fathers of old.

Wonderful little, when all is said,
Wonderful little our fathers knew.
Half their remedies cured you dead--
Most of their teaching was q