Yas'm, said Prissy and, turning, sauntered down the walk at snail's gait. Hurry, you slow poke!

Now and then a gaudy peacock would run from his shelter in the lauhala trees, but no wild boars came out, so we returned from our raid bloodless and spoilless.

It was quite usual in those days to be stopped by a soldier waiting on the road, who, with a gallant bow and salute, asked your permission tomount behindand have a lift to so and so. In fact, if you were on foot and wanted to get anywhere quickly it was always safe to rely on a military car or ambulance coming along, and then simply wave frantically and ask for a lift. Very much a case of share and share alike.

She is a new incarnation of some of the illustrious dead.