The Slowcoach | Page 9

a week's holiday in
Epping Forest, and observe Nature through its windows. Several of
Gregory's intimates also examined it, and approved. Miss Bingham
pronounced it elegant and commodious, and Mr. Crawley (who, like all
schoolmasters and tutors, made too many puns) said that its probable
rate of speed reminded him of his name. Collins wished she might
never have to cook in it, but otherwise was very tolerant. Eliza Pollard
said that her choice would be a motor car, and Jane Masters brought
'Erb back on Sunday afternoon, and they exarmined it together and
decided that with such a home as that they might be married at once.
I have left till the last the most exciting thing of all. In an enclosure,
you remember, was a key concerning the purpose of which nothing was
said in the letter. Well, in the course of the exploration of the caravan,
which went on for some days, always yielding a fresh discovery,
Robert came upon a box securely fastened to the floor in a dark corner.
"Mother! mother!" he cried; "where's that key? I've found a mysterious
keyhole!"
They all hurried to the stable yard to see, and Robert swiftly inserted
the key, and turned it. He fell back, too much overcome to speak. The
box contained twenty-five new sovereigns.
CHAPTER 4
: THE ITEMS
Mr. Lenox either knew everything, or knew someone who knew
everything, so that he was always certain to be able to help in any
difficulty. Mrs. Avory wrote to him to come round and consult with her
about it, and he was there at tea time.
"A caravan!" he said, after she had finished. "Ripping! Nothing better."
"Yes," said Mrs. Avory, "but--"

"Oh, well," said Mr. Lenox, "that's all right. A few little bothers, but
soon over." He checked them off on his finger. "Item---as your old
Swan of Avon, Hester, would say--item, a driver."
"I was thinking of Kink," said Mrs. Avory; "but there's the garden."
"Yes," said Mr. Lenox, "and there's also Kink. Do you think he'd go? "
"The best thing to do is to ask him," said Mrs. Avory. "Gregory, just
run and bring Kink in."
Kink soon appeared, fresh from the soil.
"Would you be willing to drive the caravan if we decided to use it? "
Mrs. Avory asked.
"'If'!" cried the children. "Steady on, mother. 'If'!"
Kink, who was a great tease, pretended to think for quite a long time,
until his silence had driven the children nearly desperate. "Yes," he
then said, "I should, mum, provided you let me find a trustworthy man
to go on with the garden. Otherwise I shouldn't dare to face Mrs.
Collins when I came back."
"That's very kind of you, Kink," said Mrs. Avory.
"Good old Kinky!" said Gregory.
"Yes," said Mr. Lenox. "And now for item two. The horse. How would
you go to work to get a horse, Kink?"
"Well," said Kink, "that's a little out of my way. A horse radish, yes;
but not a horse."
Everyone laughed: the old man expected it.
"Then," said Mr. Lenox, with a mock sigh, "I suppose the horse will
have to be found by me. We don't want to buy one--only to hire it."

"Don't let's have a horse," said Gregory; "let's have a motor. I think a
motor caravan would be splendid."
"There you're quite wrong," said Mr. Lenox. "The life-blood of a
caravan is sloth; the life-blood of a motor is speed. You can't mix them.
And how could Robert here survey England creditably if he rushed
through it in a motor? You're going to survey England, aren't you,
Bobbie? No, it must be a horse, and I will get it. I will make friends
with cabmen, and coachmen, and grooms, and stable-boys. I will carry
a straw in my mouth. I will get a horse to do you credit. What colour
would you like?"
"White," said Janet.
"It shall be a white horse," said Mr. Lenox. "And now," he added, "the
way is cleared for item three. Can you guess what that is? "
They all tried to guess, but could not. They were too excited.
"A dog," said Mr. Lenox.
"Oh, yes," they cried.
"To guard the caravan at night and when we are away," said Janet.
"Exactly," said Mr. Lenox. "And what kind of a dog? "
"A dachshund," said Hester.
"Too small," said Mr. Lenox.
"A St. Bernard," said Robert.
"Too mild," said Mr. Lenox.
"A spaniel," said Janet.
"Too gentle," said Mr. Lenox.

"A fox-terrier," said Gregory.
"Not strong enough," said Mr. Lenox. "I leave it to Mr. Lenox," said
Mrs. Avory.
"Very well, then," said Mr. Lenox, "a retriever--a retriever, because it is
big and formidable, and also because, when tied up, it will always be
on the