rn.

"Well, I've done what you told me to," said the Mayor.

"What was that?"

"You will 'ave your joke," he retorted indulgently. "Pretending not to
know, indeed. I've done what you told me the other day when you came to
that committee with your cat. I thought it over--I'm not a proud man,
never above takin' a hint,--and I admitted to meself that what you
said was fair about makin' money. Some'ow I never thought but what money
was the first thing to make in business. To tell you the truth, I always
thought it rather a feather in my cap that I never took advantage of
Brown Borough customers in selling adulterated goods, for--Lawdy--they'd
swallow anythink. It's different with your business, bein' in an
'igher-class locality. 'Igh prices, I thought, was only natural. Make
'ay while the sun shines was my motter, and I says to meself there was
no reason why this war should make _everyone_ un'appy. As for lookin' at
the grocery business as a trust from God, like you said, I never dremp
of such a thing, although I've bin to Chapel regular for ten years. But
I see now there was a lot in what you said, and when I come to think of
it, there was no need to make such a terrible lot of extra hay, 'owever
much the sun might be shinin'. When you put it like that, I couldn't say
why I was so set on more money, 'aving quite enough. Well, I says to
meself, after shutting meself up to think it out, like you said, 'ere
am I giving up all my life an' all my jolly days an' 'olidays, an' I'm
damned if I know what for. For money,--just money stewin' in its own
juice in a bank,--not money I can use. Well, everybody's trained so, I'm
thinkin'. Anyway I took it friendly of you to put it so delicate, so
fanciful as you did, so as them charity ladies didn't smell a rat. I
appreciated that, an' thought the more of what you said. I'm not a proud
man."

"You're just proud enough," said the witch. "You're a darling. If ever I
can help you in a business way, let me know. If you want to start a side
line, for instance, in Happiness, I can give you a tip where to get it
wholesale, within limits. It'd go like wildfire in the Brown Borough, if
you put in an ounce or two, gratis of course, with every order."

"You will 'ave your joke," murmured the Mayor. "But I like it in you.
I'm a man that never takes a joke amiss. Let's go for a walk together."

"No," said the witch. "I am so hungry that my ribs are beginning to bend
inwards. I must go and have s