But Maman decided this plan could not be risked; there was often delay, and the moist food might turn sour.

A little chilled but nowise daunted, for she was sure the hay-box would come in somehow, Jeanne remained for some time plunged deep in thought.  Then came light and her face grew radiant.  Why not send the auto-cuiseur filled with dry food? Les Boches would surely give, or sell, some boiling water and let him just start cooking on their stove.  And he would be able to use the cooker constantly, buying des choses pas cheres to cook; and yes, why not slip into the package a copy of Plats economiques, the little cookery book whose recipes they had found so satisfactory?

“Et mon cure?” But now the two figures merged more nearly than ever before into one, and Jeanne felt that his first need was one with that of the soldier, and the marmite would hold enough for both.

“Mais oui,” she exclaimed, “c’est cela!...  Ecoute, Maman!  Envoyons l’auto-cuiseur aux deux...  Ne vois-tu pas que mon soldat pourra alors manger tous les jours un bon repas bien chaud, et que mon cure pourra en donner aux autres affames?  C’est la tout juste l’affaire d’un cure.  L’auto-cuiseur est comme ca deux cadeaux en un, comme mon soldat et mon cure sont deux hommes en un!”

* * * * *

    “GERMANY IS STARVING.—­THE REAL FACTS.”—­Cassell’s Magazine of
    fiction.

Not exclusively fiction, we trust.

* * * * *

From the Appendix to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Public Service in India:—­

    “The two last pensions depended entirely on the approval of Government,
    so that a man might retire after 85 years’ service on Rs. 5000 pension
    only...”

And not before he had deserved it.

* * * * *

“Deptford Borough Council will recommend to the authorities that considering the brief period of darkness in May, June, July, and August resulting from the daylight saving scheme, it is desirable to dispense with street lighting during these months except at dangerous street crossings.”—­Daily Express.

Apparently by a slight amendment of the Summertime Act Great Britain might be transformed into the land of the Midnight Sun.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE GREATER NEED.

FLORA (To Ceres.) “ENTER, AND TAKE MY PLACE.  THIS IS YOUR YEAR.”]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.