An event: It is the first day of 'Id al-Fitr, the Islamic festival of fast-breaking, and all the children are out playing in the streets, and so are all the traditional vampires, who make a living out of sucking the blood of their parents' faces on this most holy occasion, in these most appalling and diresome times.

Cain, the first-born, follows his father's occupation, agriculture, whereas Abel branches out to stock breeding.

the doctor of a calico-printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous colouring matter

No; the Athletic. Tell you: Course they're always asking me to join the Union, but I always say, 'No, sir! Nothing doing!' I don't mind the expense but I can't stand all the old fogies.