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light was the summer air that the one cloud in the eastern
quarter of the heaven was the smoke cloud left by a passing
steamer three miles distant and more on the invisible sea。 When
the voices of the pleasure party were still； not a sound rose；
far or near； but the faint ripple at the bows； as the men； with
slow； deliberate strokes of their long poles； pressed the boat
forward softly over the shallow water。 The world and the world's
turmoil seemed left behind forever on the land； the silence was
the silence of enchantmentthe delicious interflow of the soft
purity of the sky and the bright tranquillity of the lake。
Established in perfect comfort in the boatthe major and his
daughter on one side； the curate and his mother on the other； and
Allan and young Pedgift between the twothe water party floated
smoothly toward the little nest of islands at the end of the
Broad。 Miss Milroy was in raptures； Allan was delighted； and the
major for once forgot his clock。 Every one felt pleasurably； in
their different ways； the quiet and beauty of the scene。 Mrs。
Pentecost； in her way； felt it like a clairvoyantwith closed
eyes。
〃Look behind you； Mr。 Armadale；〃 whispered young Pedgift。 〃I
think the parson's beginning to enjoy himself。〃
An unwonted brisknessportentous apparently of coming
speechdid certainly at that moment enliven the curate's manner。
He jerked his head from side to side like a bird； he cleared his
throat； and clasped his hands； and looked with a gentle interest
at the company。 Getting into spirits seemed； in the case of this
excellent person； to be alarmingly like getting into the pulpit。
〃Even in this scene of tranquillity；〃 said the Reverend Samuel；
coming out softly with his first contribution to the society in
the shape of a remark； 〃the Christian mindled； so to speak；
from one extreme to anotheris forcibly recalled to the unstable
nature of all earthly enjoyments。 How if this calm should not
last？ How if the winds rose and the waters became agitated？〃
〃You needn't alarm yourself about that； sir；〃 said young Pedgift；
〃June's the fine season hereand you can swim。〃
Mrs。 Pentecost （mesmerically affected； in all probability； by the
near neighborhood of her son） opened her eyes suddenly and asked；
with her customary eagerness。 〃What does my boy say？〃
The Reverend Samuel repeated his words in the key that suited his
mother's infirmity。 The old lady nodded in high approval； and
pursued her son's train of thought through the medium of a
quotation。
〃Ah！〃 sighed Mrs。 Pentecost； with infinite relish； 〃He rides the
whirlwind； Sammy； and directs the storm！〃
〃Noble words！〃 said the Reverend Samuel。 〃Noble and consoling
words！〃
〃I say；〃 whispered Allan； 〃if he goes on much longer in that way；
what's to be done？〃
〃I told you； papa； it was a risk to ask them；〃 added Miss Milroy；
in another whisper。
〃My dear！〃 remonstrated the major。 〃We knew nobody else in the
neighborhood； and； as Mr。 Armadale kindly suggested our bringing
our friends； what could we do？〃
〃We can't upset the boat；〃 remarked young Pedgift； with sardonic
gravity。 〃It's a lifeboat； unfortunately。 May I venture to
suggest putting something into the reverend gentleman's mouth；
Mr。 Armadale？ It's close on three o'clock。 What do you say to
ringing the dinner…bell； sir？〃
Never was the right man more entirely in the right place than
Pedgift Junior at the picnic。 In ten minutes more the boat was
brought to a stand…still among the reeds； the Thorpe Ambrose
hampers were unpacked on the roof of the cabin； and the current
of the curate's eloquence was checked for the day。
How inestimably important in its moral resultsand therefore how
praiseworthy in itselfis the act of eating and drinking！ The
social virtues center in the stomach。 A man who is not a better
husband； father； and brother after dinner than before is；
digestively speaking； an incurably vicious man。 What hidden
charms of character disclose themselves； what dormant
amiabilities awaken； when our common humanity gathers together to
pour out the gastric juice！ At the opening of the hampers from
Thorpe Ambrose； sweet Sociability （offspring of the happy union
of Civilization and Mrs。 Gripper） exhaled among the boating
party； and melted in one friendly fusion the discordant elements
of which that party had hitherto been composed。 Now did the
Reverend Samuel Pentecost； whose light had hitherto been hidden
under a bushel； prove at last that he could do something by
proving that he could eat。 Now did Pedgift Junior shine brighter
than ever he had shone yet in gems of caustic humor and exquisite
fertilities of resource。 Now did the squire； and the squire's
charming guest； prove the triple connection between Champagne
that sparkles； Love that grows bolder； and Eyes whose vocabulary
is without the word No。 Now did cheerful old times come back to
the major's memory； and cheerful old stories not told for years
find their way to the major's lips。 And now did Mrs。 Pentecost；
coming out wakefully in the whole force of her estimable maternal
character； seize on a supplementary fork； and ply that useful
instrument incessantly between the choicest morsels in the whole
round of dishes； and the few vacant places left available on the
Reverend Samuel's plate。 〃Don't laugh at my son；〃 cried the old
lady； observing the merriment which her proceedings produced
among the company。 〃It's my fault； poor dear_I_ make him eat！〃
And there are men in this world who； seeing virtues such as these
developed at the table； as they are developed nowhere else； can；
nevertheless； rank the glorious privilege of dining with the
smallest of the diurnal personal worries which necessity imposes
on mankindwith buttoning your waistcoat； for example； or lacing
your stays！ Trust no such monster as this with your tender
secrets； your loves and hatreds； your hopes and fears。 His heart
is uncorrected by his stomach； and the social virtues are not in
him。
The last mellow hours of the day and the first cool breezes of
the long summer evening had met before the dishes were all laid
waste； and the bottles as empty as bottles should be。 This point
in the proceedings attained； the picnic party looked lazily at
Pedgift Junior to know what was to be done next。 That
inexhaustible functionary was equal as ever to all the calls on
him。 He had a new amusement ready before the quickest of the
company could so much as ask him what that amusement was to be。
〃Fond of music on the water； Miss Milroy？〃 he asked； in his
airiest and pleasantest manner。
Miss Milroy adored music； both on the water and the landalways
excepting the one case when she was practicing the art herself on
the piano at home。
〃We'll get out of the reeds first；〃 said young Pedgift。 He gave
his orders to the boatmen； dived briskly into the little cabin；
and reappeared with a concertina in his hand。 〃Neat； Miss Milroy；
isn't it？〃 he observed； pointing to his initials； inlaid on the
instrument in mother…of…pearl。 〃My name's Augustus； like my
father's。 Some of my friends knock off the 'A；' and call me
'Gustus Junior。' A small joke goes a long way among friends；
doesn't it； Mr。 A