Barclay Pole thus became her guardian and carried out his duties with perfect success until it was time to give her hand in marriage to Captain Knightliville of the Guards.
“Heartease”
PEOPLE WHO REALLY DESERVE THE O.B.E.
II. THE POSTMAN
When my brother was small he wanted to be a postman because he wanted to knock double knocks; but no one who is grown up would want it, because there is no fun in spending your life in delivering letters to other people, other people’s letters are so dull.
Other people have such odd ways with their letters. Father even is cross when there is a letter for him and says “Confound the thing!—why can’t they leave me alone?” But my eldest sister waits for the postman and is miserable if he doesn’t bring her anything.
Some people lay their letters by their plates and go on eating. This seems to me extraordinary.
Some of our visitors who get letters say “Excuse me” before they read them, but others don’t.
When I think of the postman going on for ever and ever taking letters to other people I am convinced that he ought to have the O.B.E.