Old Herbaceous by Reginald Arkell

Author:Reginald Arkell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2016-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

And even that is not quite the end of the story. On a cold morning in March, a party of professional gardeners drawn from all over the county are standing on the up-platform of Swancombe Junction, waiting for the London train to take them to a conference of county delegates. Suddenly, out of the cold mist appears a glorious figure in a handsome uniform, trimmed with gold braid. The station-master, for it is none other, approaches the youngest and least distinguished of this distinguished group. “Why, Mr. Pinnegar,” he exclaims, well, this is a pleasure. Now, if you and your friends will stay just where you are till the train comes in, we’ll see you’re made comfortable. Don’t often see you this way, Mr. Pinnegar. Quite neglected us, you have....Ah, here she comes!”

The London train came slowly to rest, and the bewildered gardeners received the sort of treatment reserved for royalty. If there had been time George Honey would have had the red carpet out, but, failing that, he did all the next best things. A first class carriage, half a dozen foot-warmers, instructions to the guard that these were no ordinary travelers, and, greatest compliment of all, the station-master standing on the footboard to wish them a last god-speed as the train moved out of the station....

“My word, Mr. Pinnegar,” said the leader of the party, “you seem to be well-known in these parts. They couldn’t have made more fuss of you, not if you’d been the Lord Mayor of London.”

But Mr. Pinnegar said nothing. He was nursing an extremely sore ankle, which the station-master had given a playful tap during his bit of friendly play-acting.

George Honey, like the elephant, never forgot.

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