but--two and a half years! Why, it seems more like
twenty, since we lived in a place where you could lean out of the
window and drink the air; where I could go outside in my pyjamas
before tubbing in the morning, and see the dogs, and set the
rabbits flying in the orchard. Two years and four months. Do you
know, if we give spring madness half a chance this year, it strikes
me it will lead us out of this huddled, pent-in town, out to the
open again. I almost think we could manage it now. I hardly seem to
have lifted my nose from that table since last summer; but it's
true the bank book shows small results as yet."

"And four years was to be the minimum, wasn't it? We thought of
five, at first."

"Yes, yes; I know. My idea was that we would not go back till it
seemed sure we should be able really to stay; no more returns to
town with our tails between our legs. But, all the same, when I
look out of that window--if we _really_ lived cottage style, you
know."

"But should we? Cottages don't have kennels, you know; not
Wolfhound kennels, anyhow."

"I know. Oh, of course, it would be quite unjustifiable, quite mad;
but--I thought I felt signs of spring madness when I looked out of
that window this morning."

"Oh, well! Now do you know what I came in for? I came to tell you
that this is the last day of the Dog Show at the Agricultural Hall.
You remember that I have to go over to Mrs. Kenneth's this
afternoon, and I think it would be a good plan for you to take an
afternoon off and go to the Show. If you don't, it will be the
third year you have missed it. I really think you ought to go. It
will do you good."

"H'm! I should hardly have thought a Dog Show was a good thing for
spring madness and the change fever; rather dangerous, I should
have thought," said the man, with a queer little twisted smile.

"Oh, yes; I think it is all right; quite bracing; a sort of trial
of strength; and quite safe, because we know that madness in that
direction is simply and altogether impossible. You have been
working too hard; and besides, it will do you good to meet the
people. You will see a lot of the youngsters we reared; there are
three champions among them now. Do go!"

A little more than an hour later he was on his way to the Dog Show,
at which, in other days, he had been one of the principal
exhibitors. A bout of ill-health, combined with consequent
diminution of earnings, and a characteristic habit of doing things
on a mo