Joy in the Morning

‘Precisely, sir.’
I drew a deep breath.
‘You wouldn’t consider at least climbing a tree?’
‘No, sir.’
I drew another one.

I saw no ray of hope

driving home with our hats on the side of our heads

‘“Alas, regardless of their fate, the littl

flick the baited hook

honeysuckle-covered cottage

with a heart for any fate

‘I do. After what happened at lunch to-day.’
I was conscious of a sudden, quick concern.
‘Your lunch with Uncle Percy?’
‘That’s the one.’
‘Didn’t it go well?’
‘Not too well.’
‘Nobby was anticipating that it would bring home the bacon.’
‘Ha! God bless her optimistic little soul.’
I gave him one of my keen looks. There was a sombre expression on his map. The nose was wiggling in an overwrought way. It was easy to perceive that pain and anguish racked the brow.
‘Tell me all,’ I said.
He unshipped a heavy sigh.
‘You know, Bertie, the whole idea was a mistake from the start. She should never have brought us together. And, if she had to bring us together, she ought not to have told me to be bright and genial. You know about her wanting me to be bright and genial?’

How bright? How genial?” Shall he, that is to say, be just a medium ray of sunshine, or shall he go all out and shoot the works? I thought it over, and decided to bar nothing and be absolutely rollicking. And that, I see now, is where I went wrong.’

could get my hooks on