three men on the bummel-第3节

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waited　an　hour　for　him。　　When　he　came　he　was　more　cheerful　than　we
were；　if　he　had　not　told　me　himself　that　he　never　drank　anything
but　one　glass　of　hot　grog　before　turning　in　for　the　night；　I　should
have　said　he　was　drunk。

The　next　morning　the　wind　was　in　the　south；　which　made　Captain
Goyles　rather　anxious；　it　appearing　that　it　was　equally　unsafe　to
move　or　to　stop　where　we　were；　our　only　hope　was　it　would　change
before　anything　happened。　　By　this　time；　Ethelbertha　had　taken　a
dislike　to　the　yacht；　she　said　that；　personally；　she　would　rather
be　spending　a　week　in　a　bathing　machine；　seeing　that　a　bathing
machine　was　at　least　steady。

We　passed　another　day　in　Harwich；　and　that　night　and　the　next；　the
wind　still　continuing　in　the　south；　we　slept　at　the　〃King's　Head。〃
On　Friday　the　wind　was　blowing　direct　from　the　east。　　I　met　Captain
Goyles　on　the　quay；　and　suggested　that；　under　these　circumstances；
we　might　start。　　He　appeared　irritated　at　my　persistence。

〃If　you　knew　a　bit　more；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you'd　see　for　yourself
that　it's　impossible。　　The　wind's　a…blowing　direct　off　the　sea。〃

I　said：　　〃Captain　Goyles；　tell　me　what　is　this　thing　I　have　hired？
Is　it　a　yacht　or　a　house…boat？〃

He　seemed　surprised　at　my　question。

He　said：　　〃It's　a　yawl。〃

〃What　I　mean　is；〃　I　said；　〃can　it　be　moved　at　all；　or　is　it　a
fixture　here？　　If　it　is　a　fixture；〃　I　continued；　〃tell　me　so
frankly；　then　we　will　get　some　ivy　in　boxes　and　train　over　the
port…holes；　stick　some　flowers　and　an　awning　on　deck；　and　make　the
thing　look　pretty。　　If；　on　the　other　hand；　it　can　be　moved〃

〃Moved！〃　interrupted　Captain　Goyles。　　〃You　get　the　right　wind
behind　the　Rogue〃

I　said：　　〃What　is　the　right　wind？〃

Captain　Goyles　looked　puzzled。

〃In　the　course　of　this　week；〃　I　went　on；　〃we　have　had　wind　from　the
north；　from　the　south；　from　the　east；　from　the　westwith
variations。　　If　you　can　think　of　any　other　point　of　the　compass
from　which　it　can　blow；　tell　me；　and　I　will　wait　for　it。　　If　not；
and　if　that　anchor　has　not　grown　into　the　bottom　of　the　ocean；　we
will　have　it　up　to…day　and　see　what　happens。〃

He　grasped　the　fact　that　I　was　determined。

〃Very　well；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you're　master　and　I'm　man。　　I've　only
got　one　child　as　is　still　dependent　on　me；　thank　God；　and　no　doubt
your　executors　will　feel　it　their　duty　to　do　the　right　thing　by　the
old　woman。〃

His　solemnity　impressed　me。

〃Mr。　Goyles；〃　I　said；　〃be　honest　with　me。　　Is　there　any　hope；　in
any　weather；　of　getting　away　from　this　damned　hole？〃

Captain　Goyles's　kindly　geniality　returned　to　him。

〃You　see；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　a　very　peculiar　coast。　　We'd　be
all　right　if　we　were　once　out；　but　getting　away　from　it　in　a
cockle…shell　like　thatwell；　to　be　frank；　sir；　it　wants　doing。〃

I　left　Captain　Goyles　with　the　assurance　that　he　would　watch　the
weather　as　a　mother　would　her　sleeping　babe；　it　was　his　own　simile；
and　it　struck　me　as　rather　touching。　　I　saw　him　again　at　twelve
o'clock；　he　was　watching　it　from　the　window　of　the　〃Chain　and
Anchor。〃

At　five　o'clock　that　evening　a　stroke　of　luck　occurred；　in　the
middle　of　the　High　Street　I　met　a　couple　of　yachting　friends；　who
had　had　to　put　in　by　reason　of　a　strained　rudder。　　I　told　them　my
story；　and　they　appeared　less　surprised　than　amused。　　Captain
Goyles　and　the　two　men　were　still　watching　the　weather。　　I　ran　into
the　〃King's　Head；〃　and　prepared　Ethelbertha。　　The　four　of　us　crept
quietly　down　to　the　quay；　where　we　found　our　boat。　　Only　the　boy
was　on　board；　my　two　friends　took　charge　of　the　yacht；　and　by　six
o'clock　we　were　scudding　merrily　up　the　coast。

We　put　in　that　night　at　Aldborough；　and　the　next　day　worked　up　to
Yarmouth；　where；　as　my　friends　had　to　leave；　I　decided　to　abandon
the　yacht。　　We　sold　the　stores　by　auction　on　Yarmouth　sands　early
in　the　morning。　　I　made　a　loss；　but　had　the　satisfaction　of　〃doing〃
Captain　Goyles。　　I　left　the　Rogue　in　charge　of　a　local　mariner；
who；　for　a　couple　of　sovereigns；　undertook　to　see　to　its　return　to
Harwich；　and　we　came　back　to　London　by　train。　　There　may　be　yachts
other　than　the　Rogue；　and　skippers　other　than　Mr。　Goyles；　but　that
experience　has　prejudiced　me　against　both。

George　also　thought　a　yacht　would　be　a　good　deal　of　responsibility；
so　we　dismissed　the　idea。

〃What　about　the　river？〃　suggested　Harris。

〃We　have　had　some　pleasant　times　on　that。〃

George　pulled　in　silence　at　his　cigar；　and　I　cracked　another　nut。

〃The　river　is　not　what　it　used　to　be；〃　said　I；　〃I　don't　know　what；
but　there's　a　somethinga　dampnessabout　the　river　air　that
always　starts　my　lumbago。〃

〃It's　the　same　with　me；〃　said　George。　　〃I　don't　know　how　it　is；　but
I　never　can　sleep　now　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　river。　　I　spent　a
week　at　Joe's　place　in　the　spring；　and　every　night　I　woke　up　at
seven　o'clock　and　never　got　a　wink　afterwards。〃

〃I　merely　suggested　it；〃　observed　Harris。　　〃Personally；　I　don't
think　it　good　for　me；　either；　it　touches　my　gout。〃

〃What　suits　me　best；〃　I　said；　〃is　mountain　air。　　What　say　you　to　a
walking　tour　in　Scotland？〃

〃It's　always　wet　in　Scotland；〃　said　George。　　〃I　was　three　weeks　in
Scotland　the　year　before　last；　and　was　never　dry　once　all　the　time…
…not　in　that　sense。〃

〃It's　fine　enough　in　Switzerland；〃　said　Harris。

〃They　would　never　stand　our　going　to　Switzerland　by　ourselves；〃　I
objected。　　〃You　know　what　happened　last　time。　　It　must　be　some
place　where　no　delicately　nurtured　woman　or　child　could　possibly
live；　a　country　of　bad　hotels　and　comfortless　travelling；　where　we
shall　have　to　rough　it；　to　work　hard；　to　starve　perhaps〃

〃Easy！〃　interrupted　George；　〃easy；　there！　　Don't　forget　I'm　coming
with　you。〃

〃I　have　it！〃　exclaimed　Harris；　〃a　bicycle　tour！〃

George　looked　doubtful。

〃There's　a　lot　of　uphill　about　a　bicycle　tour；〃　said　he；　〃and　the
wind　is　against　you。〃

〃So　there　is　downhill；　and　the　wind　behind　you；〃　said　Harris。

〃I've　never　noticed　it；〃　said　George。

〃You　won't　think　of　anything　better　than　a　bicycle　tour；〃　persisted
Harris。

I　was　inclined　to　agree　with　him。

〃And　I'll　tell　you　where；〃　continued　he；　〃through　the　Black
Forest。〃

〃Why；　that's　ALL　uphill；〃　said　George。

〃Not　all；〃　retorted　Harris；　〃say　two…thirds。　　And　there's　one　thing
you've　forgotten。〃

He　looked　round　cautiously；　and　sunk　his　voice　to　a　whisper。

〃There　are　little　railways　going　up　those　hills；　little　cogwheel
things　that〃

The　door　opened；　and　Mrs。　Harris　appeared。　　She　said　that
Ethelbertha　was　putting　on　her　bonnet；　and　that　Muriel；　after
waiting；　had　given　〃The　Mad　Hatter's　Tea　Party〃　without　us。

〃Club；　to…morrow；　at　four；〃　whispered　Harris　to　me；　as　he　rose；　and
I　passed　it　on　to　George　as　we　went　upstairs



CHAPTER　II



A　delicate　businessWhat　Ethelbertha　might　have　saidWhat　she　did
sayWhat　Mrs。　Harris　saidWhat　we　told　GeorgeWe　will　start　on
WednesdayGeorge　suggests　the　possibility　of　improving　our　minds
Harris　and　I　are　doubtfulWhich　man　on　a　tandem　does　the　most
work？The　opinion　of　the　man　in　frontViews　of　the　man　behind
How　Harris　lost　his　wifeThe　luggage　questionThe　wisdom　of　my
late　Uncle　PodgerBeginning　of　story　about　a　man　who　had　a　bag。

I　opened　the　ball　with　Ethelbertha　that　same　evening。　　I　commenced
by　being　purposely　a　little　irritable。　　My　idea　was　that
Ethelbertha　would　remark　upon　this。　　I　should　admit　it；　and　account
for　it　by　over　brain　pressure。　　This　would　naturally　lead　to　talk
about　my　health　in　general；　and　the　evident　necessity　there　was　for
my　taking　prompt　and　vigorous　measures。　　I　thought　that　with　a
little　tact　I　might　even　manage　so　that　the　suggestion　should　come
from　Ethelbertha　herself。　　I　imagined　her　saying：　　〃No；　dear；　it　is
change　you　want；　complete　change。　　Now　be　persuaded　by　me；　and　go
away　for　a　month。　　No；　do　not　ask　me　to　come　with　you。　　I　know　you
would　rather　that　I　did；　but　I　will　not。　　It　is　the　society　of
other　men　you　need。　　Try　and　persuade　George　and　Harris　to　go　with
you。　　Believe　me；　a　highly　strung　brain　such　as　yours　demands
occasional　relaxation　from　the　strain　of　domestic　surroundings。
Forget　for　a　little　while　that　children　want　music　lessons；　and
boots；　and　bicycles；　with　tincture　of　rhubarb　three　times　a　day；
forget　there　are　such　things　in　life　as　cooks；　and　house
decorators；　and　next…door　dogs；　and　butchers'　bills。　　Go　away　to
some　green　corner　of　the　earth；　where　all　is　new　and　strange　to
you；　where　your　over…wrought　mind　will　gather　peace　and　fresh
ideas。　　Go　away　for　a　space　and　give　me　time　to　miss　you；　and　to
reflect　upon　your　goodness　and　virtue；　which；　continually　present
with　me；　I　may；　human…like；　be　apt　to　forget；　as　one；　through　use；
grows　indifferent　to　the　blessing　of　the　sun　and　the　beauty　of　the
moon。　　Go　away；　and　come　back　refreshed　in　mind　and　body；　a
brighter；　better　manif　that　be　possiblethan　when　you　went
away。〃

But　even　when　we　obtain　our　desires　they　never　come　to　us　garbed　as
we　would　wish。　　To　begin　with；　Ethelbertha　did　not　seem　to　remark
that　I　was　irritable；　I　had　to　draw　her　attention　to　it。　　I　said：

〃You　must　forgive　me；　I'm　not　feeling　quite　myself　to…night。〃

She　said：　　〃Oh！　　I　have　not　noticed　anything　different；　what's　the
m