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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
matter with you？〃
〃I can't tell you what it is；〃 I said； 〃I've felt it coming on for
weeks。〃
〃It's that whisky；〃 said Ethelbertha。 〃You never touch it except
when we go to the Harris's。 You know you can't stand it； you have
not a strong head。〃
〃It isn't the whisky；〃 I replied； 〃it's deeper than that。 I fancy
it's more mental than bodily。〃
〃You've been reading those criticisms again；〃 said Ethelbertha；
more sympathetically； 〃why don't you take my advice and put them on
the fire？〃
〃And it isn't the criticisms；〃 I answered； 〃they've been quite
flattering of lateone or two of them。〃
〃Well； what is it？〃 said Ethelbertha； 〃there must be something to
account for it。〃
〃No； there isn't；〃 I replied； 〃that's the remarkable thing about
it； I can only describe it as a strange feeling of unrest that
seems to have taken possession of me。〃
Ethelbertha glanced across at me with a somewhat curious
expression； I thought； but as she said nothing； I continued the
argument myself。
〃This achi