whole lot of shops, and Richard and Sandy bought my
things, and paid for them with money made of elder-pith, sliced into
rounds. The first shop I kept was to sell cowslips, and Richard and
Sandy lived by the brook, and were wine merchants, and made cowslip
wine in a tin mug.

The elder-tree was a beauty. In July the cream-coloured flowers were
so sweet, we could hardly sit under it, and in the autumn it was
covered with berries; but we were always a little disappointed that
they never tasted in the least like elderberry syrup. Richard used to
make flutes out of the stalks, and one really did to play tunes on,
but it always made Perronet bark.

Richard's every-day cap had a large hole in the top, and when we were
in Our Field we always hung it on the top of the tallest of the two
stile-posts, to show that we were there; just as the Queen has a flag
hung out at Windsor Castle, when she is at home.

We played at castles and houses, and when we were tired of the houses,
we pretended to pack up, and went to the seaside for change of air by
the brook. Sandy and I took off our shoes and stockings and were
bathing-women, and we bathed Perronet; and Richard sat on the bank and
was a "tripper," looking at us through a telescope; for when the
elder-stems cracked and wouldn't do for flutes, he made them into
telescopes. And before we went down to the brook we made jam of hips
and haws from the hedge at the top of the field, and put it into acorn
cups, and took it with us, that the children might not be short of
rolypolies at the seaside.

Whatever we played at we were never disturbed. Birds, and cows, and
men and horses ploughing in the distance, do not disturb you at all.

We were very happy that summer: the boys were quite happy, and the
only thing that vexed me was thinking of Perronet's tax-money. For
months and months went on and we did not save it. Once we got as far
as twopence half-penny, and then one day Richard came to me and said,
"I must have some more string for the kite. You might lend me a penny
out of Perronet's stocking, till I get some money of my own."

So I did; and the next day Sandy came and said, "You lent Dick one of
Perronet's coppers; I'm sure Perronet would lend me one," and then
they said it was ridiculous to leave a half-penny there by itself, so
we spent it in acid drops.

It worried me so much at last, that I began to dream horrible dreams
about Perronet having to go away because we hadn't sav