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Newfoundland puppy。 You might look daggers at him for an hour and he
would not notice it； and it would not trouble him if he did。 He set a
good； rollicking； dashing stroke that sent the spray playing all over the
boat like a fountain； and made the whole crowd sit up straight in no
time。 When he spread more than pint of water over one of those dresses；
he would give a pleasant little laugh； and say：
〃I beg your pardon； I'm sure；〃 and offer them his handkerchief to wipe it
off with。
〃Oh； it's of no consequence；〃 the poor girls would murmur in reply； and
covertly draw rugs and coats over themselves； and try and protect
themselves with their lace parasols。
At lunch they had a very bad time of it。 People wanted them to sit on
the grass； and the grass was dusty； and the tree…trunks； against which
they were invited to lean； did not appear to have been brushed for weeks；
so they spread their handkerchiefs on the ground and sat on those； bolt
upright。 Somebody； in walking about with a plate of beef…steak pie；
tripped up over a root； and sent the pie flying。 None of it went over
them； fortunately； but the accident suggested a fresh danger to them； and
agitated them； and； whenever anybody moved about； after that； with
anything in his hand that could fall and make a mess； they watched that
person with growing anxiety until he sat down again。
〃Now then； you girls；〃 said our friend Bow to them； cheerily； after it
was all over； 〃come along； you've got to wash up！〃
They didn't understand him at first。 When they grasped the idea； they
said they feared they did not know how to wash up。
〃Oh； I'll soon show you；〃 he cried； 〃it's rare fun！ You lie down on your
… I mean you lean over the bank； you know； and sloush the things about in
the water。〃
The elder sister said that she was afraid that they hadn't got on dresses
suited to the work。
〃Oh； they'll be all right；〃 said he light…heartedly； 〃tuck ‘em up。〃
And he made them do it； too。 He told them that that sort of thing was
half the fun of a picnic。 They said it was very interesting。
Now I come to think it over； was that young man as dense…headed as we
thought？ or was he … no； impossible！ there was such a simple； child…like
expression about him！
Harris wanted to get out at Hampton Church； to go and see Mrs。 Thomas's
tomb。
〃Who is Mrs。 Thomas？〃 I asked。
〃How should I know？〃 replied Harris。 〃She's a lady that's got a funny
tomb； and I want to see it。〃
I objected。 I don't know whether it is that I am built wrong； but I
never did seem to hanker after tombstones myself。 I know that the proper
thing to do； when you get to a village or town； is to rush off to the
churchyard； and enjoy the graves； but it is a recreation that I always
deny myself。 I take no interest in creeping round dim and chilly
churches behind wheezy old men； and reading epitaphs。 Not even the sight
of a bit of cracked brass let into a stone affords me what I call real
happiness。
I shock respectable sextons by the imperturbability I am able to assume
before exciting inscriptions； and by my lack of enthusiasm for the local
family history； while my ill…concealed anxiety to get outside wounds
their feelings。
One golden morning of a sunny day； I leant against the low stone wall
that guarded a little village church； and I smoked； and drank in deep；
calm gladness from the sweet； restful scene … the grey old church with
its clustering ivy and its quaint carved wooden porch； the white lane
winding down the hill between tall rows of elms； the thatched…roof
cottages peeping above their trim…kept hedges； the silver river in the
hollow； the wooded hills beyond！
It was a lovely landscape。 It was idyllic； poetical； and it inspired me。
I felt good and noble。 I felt I didn't want to be sinful and wicked any
more。 I would come and live here； and never do any more wrong； and lead
a blameless； beautiful life； and have silver hair when I got old； and all
that sort of thing。
In that moment I forgave all my friends and relations for their
wickedness and cussedness； and I blessed them。 They did not know that I
blessed them。 They went their abandoned way all unconscious of what I；
far away in that peaceful village； was doing for them； but I did it； and
I wished that I could let them know that I had done it； because I wanted
to make them happy。 I was going on thinking away all these grand； tender
thoughts； when my reverie was broken in upon by a shrill piping voice
crying out：
〃All right； sur； I'm a…coming； I'm a…coming。 It's all right； sur； don't
you be in a hurry。〃
I looked up； and saw an old bald…headed man hobbling across the
churchyard towards me； carrying a huge bunch of keys in his hand that
shook and jingled at every step。
I motioned him away with silent dignity； but he still advanced；
screeching out the while：
〃I'm a…coming； sur； I'm a…coming。 I'm a little lame。 I ain't as spry as
I used to be。 This way； sur。〃
〃Go away； you miserable old man；〃 I said。
〃I've come as soon as I could； sur；〃 he replied。 〃My missis never see
you till just this minute。 You follow me； sur。〃
〃Go away；〃 I repeated； 〃leave me before I get over the wall； and slay
you。〃
He seemed surprised。
〃Don't you want to see the tombs？〃 he said。
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃I don't。 I want to stop here； leaning up against this
gritty old wall。 Go away； and don't disturb me。 I am chock full of
beautiful and noble thoughts； and I want to stop like it； because it
feels nice and good。 Don't you come fooling about； making me mad；
chivying away all my better feelings with this silly tombstone nonsense
of yours。 Go away； and get somebody to bury you cheap； and I'll pay half
the expense。〃
He was bewildered for a moment。 He rubbed his eyes； and looked hard at
me。 I seemed human enough on the outside： he couldn't make it out。
He said：
〃Yuise a stranger in these parts？ You don't live here？〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃I don't。 YOU wouldn't if I did。〃
〃Well then；〃 he said； 〃you want to see the tombs … graves … folks been
buried； you know … coffins！〃
〃You are an untruther；〃 I replied； getting roused； 〃I do not want to see
tombs … not your tombs。 Why should I？ We have graves of our own； our
family has。 Why my uncle Podger has a tomb in Kensal Green Cemetery；
that is the pride of all that country…side； and my grandfather's vault at
Bow is capable of accommodating eight visitors； while my great…aunt Susan
has a brick grave in Finchley Churchyard； with a headstone with a coffee…
pot sort of thing in bas…relief upon it； and a six…inch best white stone
coping all the way round； that cost pounds。 When I want graves； it is to
those places that I go and revel。 I do not want other folk's。 When you
yourself are buried； I will come and see yours。 That is all I can do for
you。〃
He burst into tears。 He said that one of the tombs had a bit of stone
upon the top of it that had been said by some to be probably part of the
remains of the figure of a man； and that another had some words； carved
upon it； that nobody had ever been able to decipher。
I still remained obdurate； and； in broken…hearted tones； he said：
〃Well； won't you come and see the memorial window？〃
I would not even see that； so he fired his last shot。 He drew near； and
whispered hoarsely：
〃I've got a couple of skulls down in the crypt；〃 he said； 〃come and see
those。 Oh； do come and see the skulls！ You are a young man out for a
holiday； and you want to enjoy yourself。 Come and see the skulls！〃
Then I turned and fled； and as I sped I heard him calling to me：
〃Oh； come and see the skulls； come back and see the skulls！〃
Harris； however； revels in tombs； and graves； and epitaphs； and
monumental inscriptions； and the thought of not seeing Mrs。 Thomas's
grave made him crazy。 He said he had looked forward to seeing Mrs。
Thomas's grave from the first moment that the trip was proposed … said he
wouldn't have joined if it hadn't been for the idea of seeing Mrs。
Thomas's tomb。
I reminded him of George； and how we had to get the boat up to Shepperton
by five o'clock to meet him； and then he went for George。 Why was George
to fool about all day； and leave us to lug this lumbering old top…heavy
barge up and down the river by ourselves to meet him？ Why couldn't
George come and do some work？ Why couldn't he have got the day off； and
come down with us？ Bank be blowed！ What good was he at the bank？
〃I never see him doing any work there；〃 continued Harris； 〃whenever I go
in。 He sits behind a bit of glass all day； trying to look as if he was
doing something。 What's the good of a man behind a bit of glass？ I have
to work for my living。 Why can't he work。 What use is he th