Mrs. Podger had obligingly pushed things around on the porch to make room for it, and there it was, slung in a vine-shaded corner, the night breeze rippling its fringe with a slow, caressing movement.

As he pulled the fringed sides up and made himself into a cocoon, Mr. Podger saw that thin, attractive, freckled little face again, and hoped that the boy, too, was lying in a cool, fringed-wrapped quiet.

Here in the cool darkness Mr. Podger could still feel the warmth of midday, could still see the yellow butterflies dancing over the road, could still see the friendly grin on the young, sun-browned face as the driver looked back over his shoulder for a moment before the car streaked out of sight.

Alacrity, the Podger cat, came by the hammock, rubbed her back briefly against it, and then, sure of a welcome, hopped up.

Taking off his hat and signaling the driver with it, Mr. Podger stepped into the road, lifted the surprised turtle and consummated its road-crossing with what must have been a breath-taking suddenness.

Mr. Podger always particularly enjoyed the last night of each summer at Loon Lake.

In the midst of it all, Mr. Podger came out on the Pod porch, alone.

Here, in the cool, autumn-touched evening, Mr. Podger mentally retraced a day that had left him greatly contented and at peace.

Walking along the lake before breakfast, Mr. Podger had seen the feather, and the bird that had lost it in flight.

All day long Mr. Podger, who was a straw-hat man in the summer, had worn the feather in the band of his broad-brimmed sunshield.

It was doing very well, too, having reached the center, and was pursuing its way with commendable singleness of purpose when Mr. Podger saw hazard approaching in the shape of a flashy little sports car.

Mr. Podger took no chances.

But Mr. Podger and the driver of the sports car waved at each other.

Mr. Podger smiled.

The three would never meet again, but for some reason or other Mr. Podger was sure he would always remember the incident.

Mr. Podger had thanked him gravely, and now he made use of the advice.

She remarked that she found the night wind a little chilly, and Mr. Podger took her inside the fringe.

Mr. Podger was just adding this to his pictures of the day when the screen door opened and Pam burst out.

Mr. Podger opened his cocoon and emerged, tucking Alacrity under his arm to bring her in by the fire.

* Fox, Krummel, Yarnasarn, Ekasingh, and Podger, 1995.

The Jersey historian Alec Podger has suggested that it was too costly in terms of money and manpower to control and, as the Islands were not on the sea-lanes, it was decided that this cost was not justified by the benefits.

The actress also played ' Podger ' Pam Jolly in the hit ITV series Bad Girls.

* A. S. Podger ( 24 September 2003 ), Trends in the Australian Public Service: 1953-2003 ( text illustrations ), Australian Public Service Commission

The boy came on to the porch and sat down, his gaze on Morgan as if half expecting him to shoot and not really caring.

She sat down at the table, shaking her head.

Smiling, she sat down on the suitcase and waited and watched.

In the small gallery used as the guests' dining room, Meredith sat down at his place and, as always, began teasing the young waitress.

As she was rather tired this evening, her simple `` Thank you for the use of your bath '' -- when she sat down opposite him -- spoken in a low voice, came across with coolnesses of intelligence and control.

The man took two short steps backward then sat down heavily on the pavement.

Robinson clambered heavily into the boat, sat down, and stripped off his triple-tank assembly.

As he reached for the door there was a knock on it and when he opened he found Artie, who came in and sat down on a bunk.

Harriet's mouth watered with anticipation when after months of dreaming she sat down at last to her much-craved milk and fresh bread.

Robinson asked Herford to escort him to the club's lavatory before they sat down for a highball and a game of cards.

Seeing their hesitation, I said, `` Well, until I have permission to enter Germany, or a visa to re-enter France, I shall be obliged to remain here on the line between two countries '', whereupon I moved to the side of the road, parked my backpack against the small guardhouse on the sidewalk, sat down, took out my typewriter, and began typing the above conversation.

This man, Tom said, had the play shut up in his desk, I believe, and when Tom sat down, he pulled it out and apologetically told Tom that they wouldn't be able to use it.

I sat down to wait, and I watched Tessie Alpert, who hadn't moved or said a word but kept staring out of the window.

Monsieur Favre sat down in his high-backed stall, lips compressed, eyes glinting.

The doctor sat down rather wearily, caressing the hen and remarking that the city was not the place for a poultry-loving man, but no sooner was the remark out than a knock at this door obliged him to cover the hen with his greatcoat once more.

Her legs hung down long and thin as she sat on the high stool.

Ordinary politeness may have militated against this opinion being stated so badly but anyone with a wide acquaintance in both groups and who has sat through the many round tables, workshops or panel discussions -- whatever they are called -- on this subject will recognize that the final, boiled down crux of the matter is education.

He sat down on an old box and focused on the problem.

Mr. Blatz sat down in the only unoccupied kitchen chair.

Moreland went over to stare at his peacocks again, and then came back and sat down, restively.

We had just sat down.

The last time I saw Bird, at Jimbo's Bob City, he was so gone -- so blind to the world -- that he literally sat down on me before he realized I was there.

She smoothed the skirt, sat down, then stood up and went back to the windows.

Finally he went into the bedroom and sat down to take off his shoes.