I watch as the mason at the Gilbert house picks up a glob of parge coat on his trowel. He smooths it on, moving from the bottom of the wall to the top. Next, he drapes a white fiberglass mesh from the top of the wall to the bottom and pushes it into the parge coat with his trowel.

But he could be equally exasperating, obsessive, unempathetic and prone to sudden fits of violence that, invariably, filled him with remorse and self-loathing after the fact.

And so venturing not to say another word, poor Jemima trotted off, exceedingly flurried and nervous.

Association was built into the structure of communal government in the City's wardmotes and precinct meetings and in the open vestries of many suburban parishes.