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To sum up。 My uncommercial travelling has not yet brought me to
the conclusion that we are close to perfection in these matters。
And just as I do not believe that the end of the world will ever be
near at hand； so long as any of the very tiresome and arrogant
people who constantly predict that catastrophe are left in it； so；
I shall have small faith in the Hotel Millennium； while any of the
uncomfortable superstitions I have glanced at remain in existence。
CHAPTER VII … TRAVELLING ABROAD
I got into the travelling chariot … it was of German make； roomy；
heavy； and unvarnished … I got into the travelling chariot； pulled
up the steps after me； shut myself in with a smart bang of the
door； and gave the word； 'Go on！'
Immediately； all that W。 and S。W。 division of London began to slide
away at a pace so lively； that I was over the river； and past the
Old Kent Road； and out on Blackheath； and even ascending Shooter's
Hill； before I had had time to look about me in the carriage； like
a collected traveller。
I had two ample Imperials on the roof； other fitted storage for
luggage in front； and other up behind； I had a net for books
overhead； great pockets to all the windows； a leathern pouch or two
hung up for odds and ends； and a reading lamp fixed in the back of
the chariot； in case I should be benighted。 I was amply provided
in all respects； and had no idea where I was going （which was
delightful）； except that I was going abroad。
So smooth was the old high road； and so fresh were the horses； and
so fast went I； that it was midway between Gravesend and Rochester；
and the widening river was bearing the ships； white sailed or
black…smoked； out to sea； when I noticed by the wayside a very
queer small boy。
'Holloa！' said I； to the very queer small boy； 'where do you live？'
'At Chatham；' says he。
'What do you do there？' says I。
'I go to school；' says he。
I took him up in a moment； and we went on。 Presently； the very
queer small boy says； 'This is Gads…hill we are coming to； where
Falstaff went out to rob those travellers； and ran away。'
'You know something about Falstaff； eh？' said I。
'All about him；' said the very queer small boy。 'I am old （I am
nine）； and I read all sorts of books。 But DO let us stop at the
top of the hill； and look at the house there； if you please！'
'You admire that house？' said I。
'Bless you； sir；' said the very queer small boy； 'when I was not
more than half as old as nine； it used to be a treat for me to be
brought to look at it。 And now； I am nine； I come by myself to
look at it。 And ever since I can recollect； my father； seeing me
so fond of it； has often said to me； 〃If you were to be very
persevering and were to work hard； you might some day come to live
in it。〃 Though that's impossible！' said the very queer small boy；
drawing a low breath； and now staring at the house out of window
with all his might。
I was rather amazed to be told this by the very queer small boy；
for that house happens to be MY house； and I have reason to believe
that what he said was true。
Well！ I made no halt there； and I soon dropped the very queer
small boy and went on。 Over the road where the old Romans used to
march； over the road where the old Canterbury pilgrims used to go；
over the road where the travelling trains of the old imperious
priests and princes used to jingle on horseback between the
continent and this Island through the mud and water； over the road
where Shakespeare hummed to himself； 'Blow； blow； thou winter
wind；' as he sat in the saddle at the gate of the inn yard noticing
the carriers； all among the cherry orchards； apple orchards； corn…
fields； and hop…gardens； so went I； by Canterbury to Dover。 There；
the sea was tumbling in； with deep sounds； after dark； and the
revolving French light on Cape Grinez was seen regularly bursting
out and becoming obscured； as if the head of a gigantic light…
keeper in an anxious state of mind were interposed every half…
minute； to look how it was burning。
Early in the morning I was on the deck of the steam…packet； and we
were aiming at the bar in the usual intolerable manner； and the bar
was aiming at us in the usual intolerable manner； and the bar got
by far the best of it； and we got by far the worst … all in the
usual intolerable manner。
But； when I was clear of the Custom House on the other side； and
when I began to make the dust fly on the thirsty French roads； and
when the twigsome trees by the wayside （which； I suppose； never
will grow leafy； for they never did） guarded here and there a dusty
soldier； or field labourer； baking on a heap of broken stones；
sound asleep in a fiction of shade； I began to recover my
travelling spirits。 Coming upon the breaker of the broken stones；
in a hard； hot； shining hat； on which the sun played at a distance
as on a burning…glass； I felt that now； indeed； I was in the dear
old France of my affections。 I should have known it； without the
well…remembered bottle of rough ordinary wine； the cold roast fowl；
the loaf； and the pinch of salt； on which I lunched with
unspeakable satisfaction； from one of the stuffed pockets of the
chariot。
I must have fallen asleep after lunch； for when a bright face
looked in at the window； I started； and said：
'Good God； Louis； I dreamed you were dead！'
My cheerful servant laughed； and answered：
'Me？ Not at all； sir。'
'How glad I am to wake！ What are we doing Louis？'
'We go to take relay of horses。 Will you walk up the hill？'
'Certainly。'
Welcome the old French hill； with the old French lunatic （not in
the most distant degree related to Sterne's Maria） living in a
thatched dog…kennel half…way up； and flying out with his crutch and
his big head and extended nightcap； to be beforehand with the old
men and women exhibiting crippled children； and with the children
exhibiting old men and women； ugly and blind； who always seemed by
resurrectionary process to be recalled out of the elements for the
sudden peopling of the solitude！
'It is well；' said I； scattering among them what small coin I had；
'here comes Louis； and I am quite roused from my nap。'
We journeyed on again； and I welcomed every new assurance that
France stood where I had left it。 There were the posting…houses；
with their archways； dirty stable…yards； and clean post…masters'
wives； bright women of business； looking on at the putting…to of
the horses； there were the postilions counting what money they got；
into their hats； and never making enough of it； there were the
standard population of grey horses of Flanders descent； invariably
biting one another when they got a chance； there were the fleecy
sheepskins； looped on over their uniforms by the postilions； like
bibbed aprons when it blew and rained； there were their Jack…boots；
and their cracking whips； there were the cathedrals that I got out
to see； as under some cruel bondage； in no wise desiring to see
them； there were the little towns that appeared to have no reason
for being towns； since most of their houses were to let and nobody
could be induced to look at them； except the people who couldn't
let them and had nothing else to do but look at them all day。 I
lay a night upon the road and enjoyed delectable cookery of
potatoes； and some other sensible things； adoption of which at home
would inevitably be shown to be fraught with ruin； somehow or
other； to that rickety national blessing； the British farmer； and
at last I was rattled； like a single pill in a box； over leagues of
stones； until … madly cracking； plunging； and flourishing two grey
tails about … I made my triumphal entry into Paris。
At Paris； I took an upper apartment for a few days in one of the
hotels of the Rue de Rivoli； my front windows looking into the
garden of the Tuileries （where the principal difference between the
nursemaids and the flowers seemed to be that the former were
locomotive and the latter not）： my back windows looking at all the
other back windows in the hotel； and deep down into a paved yard；
where my German chariot had retired under a tight…fitting archway；
to all appearance for life； and where bells rang all day without
anybody's minding them but certain chamberlains with feather brooms
and green baize caps； who here and there leaned out of some high
window placidly looking down； and where neat waiters with trays on
their left shoulders passed and repassed from morning to night。
Whenever I am at Paris； I am dragged by invisible force into the
Morgue。 I never want to go there； but am always pulled there。 One
Christmas Day； when I would rather have been anywhere else； I was
attracted in； to see an old grey man lying all alone on his cold
bed； with a tap of water turned on over his grey hair； and running；
drip； drip； drip； down his wretched face unt