The gamekeeper often picks up hints about poachers in unexpected ways.
His wife, as a rule, takes no great interest in the affairs of game;
yet every now and again she is able to tell her husband some news that
may be at once bad and good. It happened that the wife of a highly
respected gardener fell ill, and one afternoon the keeper's wife kindly
offered to take charge of her children. The eldest child, a boy of
about six, seemed to have little to say for himself; but, as the party
was walking silently along a lane, he suddenly said in a voice that
promised well to be a bass some day: "Our muver, she do make we some
good dinners." "Indeed," said the keeper's wife, "and what does she
give you for dinner?" The boy answered eagerly and proudly: "Bunny
rabbits, m'm." "Indeed," said the keeper's wife again, "and where does
mother get the bunny rabbits?" "Please, m'm, faither buys 'em off a man
as brings 'em." "Oh! in-_deed_!" said the keeper's wife, and it was not
long before one more receiver of stolen rabbits was brought to justice.
* * * * *