And the liberty to wear
finery. And generally--freedom from restraint. So that there might be
a little difficulty perhaps to find a May Queen here just at present who
was really young and er--pretty.... Of course I couldn't think of any of
my girls--or anything of that sort."
"We got to attract 'em back," said my uncle. "That's what I feel about
it. We got to Buck-Up the country. The English country is a going
concern still; just as the Established Church--if you'll excuse me
saying it, is a going concern. Just as Oxford is--or Cambridge. Or any
of those old, fine old things. Only it wants fresh capital, fresh
idees and fresh methods. Light railways, f'rinstance--scientific use of
drainage. Wire fencing machinery--all that."
The vicar's face for one moment betrayed dismay. Perhaps he was thinking
of his country walks amids the hawthorns and honeysuckle.
"There's great things," said my uncle, "to be done on Mod'un lines with
Village Jam and Pickles--boiled in the country."
It was the reverberation of this last sentence in my mind, I think,
that sharpened my sentimental sympathy as we went through the straggling
village street and across the trim green on our way back to London.
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