As he came to the front door of the George residence , Peter paused to take off his very muddied boots , used a strong twig that he had he picked up from the garden and scraped off most the dried earth . As he finished and turned to go inside , he was blocked by Ernie .

-- Ah there , said Ernie , has her up at The Manor been teaching you polite behaviour ?

It was an obvious attempt at humour and not meant to offend , because Ernie immdiately continued:

-- What's it like up there , then ? What's it look like inside? I don't deliver to her , so I never get a chance to look .

He thought for a moment .

-- She must use powdered milk .

The disapproval in his voice was obvious.

-- Not sure about that , said Peter . He was , but he had no intention of letting on.

Then , in order to prevent any further prying questions , and having noticed a scribbled on piece of paper in Ernie's hand , he took the opportunity to ask something for himself:

-- Is that a poem you have there ?

-- It is indeed , said Ernie with a modicum of pride.

-- I just started it today , and I was going to write about people taking milk. I might make something of Her Ladyship not spending in the Village .

-- You know , soothed Peter , I could probably take a couple of bottles up with me for my own tea and coffee . That might get her taking some regularly . I could be Assistant Milkman!

Ernie looked doubtful for a moment , then beamed.

-- You could at that ! he exclaimed .

-- Well , said Peter , still forestalling questions . You had better show me your effort .

-- There's a long way to go on it yet and I haven't given it a proper name either , said Ernie , but then with some hesitating over scribbled out words and some rough metrics , he almost chanted:

In the early morning on my rounds

I listen to the many village sounds.

The clink of bottles in my crates

and while my purring milk float waits

I whistle merrily as I leave

the milks and creams for folk to retrieve.

Some there are who leave out cash--

( I think that in this village that is rash )

others leave the debt to mount

and wait for my fortnightly account.

But some alas , I have to say

are quite unhappy to have to pay.

Let me tell you , my knuckles are sore

from knocking on the florist's door.

-- Oho , exclaimed Peter , I think I saw you there this morning .

But before Ernie could launch into more , he said:

-- I must see the finished product . But I'm hungry , so I'll get cleaned up and go have a meal at The Well .

Then he gently pushed past and went up to wash and change .

As soon as he was done he set off for the cafe . Jenny was on duty as waitress while Mrs George clattered about in the back kitchen, busy with preparing meals for the six or seven other people in the room . Peter looked them over and decided that they were probably workers from the sweets factory , with their girlfriends .

Rather than have her begin to question him as she came to his table , he grinned at her and with a wink asked :

-- Got any messages for love's young dream ? I'm going to see him after I've eaten.

-- You can give him a note from me , if you would , said Jenny , flushing a little . I'll bring it with your bill . But don't , please don't , , give it to him if the Sergeant's there .

-- Easy , said Peter , and gave his order.

The meal was brought , quickly eaten , as as he was paying , Jenny slipped him an envelope with a note inside .

-- Shouldn't this be pink and scented ? quipped Peter , but Jenny whispered as she looked over her shoulder :

-- Hush up. I don't want Mum to know either.

Peter saluted like a Boy Scout , took the note and left , relieved that Mrs George hadn't been able to interrogate him.

Down at the police station , he walked in and rapped on the reception desk .

As the young constable put his head around an inner door , Peter slapped his passport on the desk and pointed out calmly that the constable had already seen it . Then he showed the work visa .

-- I gather you missed this the other day , he said . Too busy with the young lady ?

The constable was about to reply when Peter waved the note at him .

-- Not too busy for this though , I bet , he said .

-- Anyway , anytime you want to send a message -- I 'm already Assistant Milkman , so I don't mind being Assistant Postie too . No charge !

As he turned to leave , the constable took him by the arm , and said :

-- I was a bit abrupt , I know . There's a lot of tension between our families so ....

He paused and stuck out a hand .

-- Friends ?

-- Sure , said Peter . I prefer to be on the side of the angels .

And he left to see if he could find some Tim Tams , since he wanted to see Jane to get his tee shirt back .