THE WOULDBEGOODS
"Maidstone Society of Antiquities and Field Club,
"Aug. 14, 1900.
"Dear Sir,—At a meeting of the—"
H. O. stuck fast here, and the writing was really very bad, like a spider that has been in the inkpot crawling in a hurry over the paper without stopping to rub its feet properly on the mat. So Oswald took the letter. He is above minding a little marmalade or bacon. He began to read. It ran thus:
"It's not Antiquities, you little silly," he said; "it's Antiquaries."
"The other's a very good word," said Albert's uncle, "and I never call names at breakfast myself—it upsets the digestion, my egregious Oswald."
"That's a name though," said Alice, "and you got it out of 'Stalky,' too. Go on, Oswald."
So Oswald went on where he had been interrupted:
"Maidstone Society of Antiquaries and Field Club,
"Aug. 14, 1900.
"Dear Sir,—At a meeting of the Committee of this Society it was agreed that a field day should be held on Aug. 20, when the Society proposes to visit the interesting church of Ivybridge and also the Roman remains in the vicinity. Our president, Mr. Longchamps, F.R.S., has obtained permission to open a barrow in the Three Trees pasture. We venture to ask whether you would allow the members of the Society to walk through your grounds and to inspect—from without, of course—your beautiful house, which is, as you are doubtless aware, of great historic interest, having been for some years the residence of the celebrated Sir Thomas Wyatt.—I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
"Edward K. Turnbull (Hon. Sec.)."
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