an inland voyage-第7部分

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and　take　the　rest　for　granted；　or；　what　is　a　　great　deal　better；　boldly　make　up　your　mind　that　you　can　do　　perfectly　well　without　the　rest；　and　that　ten　thousand　bad　traits　　cannot　make　a　single　good　one　any　the　less　good。

It　was　getting　late。　　M。　Hector　lit　a　stable　lantern　and　went　off　　to　his　cart　for　some　arrangements；　and　my　young　gentleman　proceeded　　to　divest　himself　of　the　better　part　of　his　raiment；　and　play　　gymnastics　on　his　mother's　lap；　and　thence　on　to　the　floor；　with　　accompaniment　of　laughter。

'Are　you　going　to　sleep　alone？'　asked　the　servant　lass。

'There's　little　fear　of　that；'　says　Master　Gilliard。

'You　sleep　alone　at　school；'　objected　his　mother。　　'Come；　come；　you　　must　be　a　man。'

But　he　protested　that　school　was　a　different　matter　from　the　　holidays；　that　there　were　dormitories　at　school；　and　silenced　the　　discussion　with　kisses：　　his　mother　smiling；　no　one　better　pleased　　than　she。

There　certainly　was；　as　he　phrased　it；　very　little　fear　that　he　　should　sleep　alone；　for　there　was　but　one　bed　for　the　trio。　　We；　on　　our　part；　had　firmly　protested　against　one　man's　accommodation　for　　two；　and　we　had　a　double…bedded　pen　in　the　loft　of　the　house；　　furnished；　beside　the　beds；　with　exactly　three　hat…pegs　and　one　　table。　　There　was　not　so　much　as　a　glass　of　water。　　But　the　window　　would　open；　by　good　fortune。

Some　time　before　I　fell　asleep　the　loft　was　full　of　the　sound　of　　mighty　snoring：　　the　Gilliards；　and　the　labourers；　and　the　people　　of　the　inn；　all　at　it；　I　suppose；　with　one　consent。　　The　young　moon　　outside　shone　very　clearly　over　Pont…sur…Sambre；　and　down　upon　the　　ale…house　where　all　we　pedlars　were　abed。



ON　THE　SAMBRE　CANALISED



TO　LANDRECIES


IN　the　morning；　when　we　came　downstairs；　the　landlady　pointed　out　　to　us　two　pails　of　water　behind　the　street…door。　　'VOILA　DE　L'EAU　　POUR　VOUS　DEBARBOUILLER；'　says　she。　　And　so　there　we　made　a　shift　　to　wash　ourselves；　while　Madame　Gilliard　brushed　the　family　boots　　on　the　outer　doorstep；　and　M。　Hector；　whistling　cheerily；　arranged　　some　small　goods　for　the　day's　campaign　in　a　portable　chest　of　　drawers；　which　formed　a　part　of　his　baggage。　　Meanwhile　the　child　　was　letting　off　Waterloo　crackers　all　over　the　floor。

I　wonder；　by…the…bye；　what　they　call　Waterloo　crackers　in　France；　　perhaps　Austerlitz　crackers。　　There　is　a　great　deal　in　the　point　of　　view。　　Do　you　remember　the　Frenchman　who；　travelling　by　way　of　　Southampton；　was　put　down　in　Waterloo　Station；　and　had　to　drive　　across　Waterloo　Bridge？　　He　had　a　mind　to　go　home　again；　it　seems。

Pont　itself　is　on　the　river；　but　whereas　it　is　ten　minutes'　walk　　from　Quartes　by　dry　land；　it　is　six　weary　kilometres　by　water。　　We　　left　our　bags　at　the　inn；　and　walked　to　our　canoes　through　the　wet　　orchards　unencumbered。　　Some　of　the　children　were　there　to　see　us　　off；　but　we　were　no　longer　the　mysterious　beings　of　the　night　　before。　　A　departure　is　much　less　romantic　than　an　unexplained　　arrival　in　the　golden　evening。　　Although　we　might　be　greatly　taken　　at　a　ghost's　first　appearance；　we　should　behold　him　vanish　with　　comparative　equanimity。

The　good　folk　of　the　inn　at　Pont；　when　we　called　there　for　the　　bags；　were　overcome　with　marvelling。　　At　sight　of　these　two　dainty　　little　boats；　with　a　fluttering　Union　Jack　on　each；　and　all　the　　varnish　shining　from　the　sponge；　they　began　to　perceive　that　they　　had　entertained　angels　unawares。　　The　landlady　stood　upon　the　　bridge；　probably　lamenting　she　had　charged　so　little；　the　son　ran　　to　and　fro；　and　called　out　the　neighbours　to　enjoy　the　sight；　and　　we　paddled　away　from　quite　a　crowd　of　wrapt　observers。　　These　　gentlemen　pedlars；　indeed！　　Now　you　see　their　quality　too　late。

The　whole　day　was　showery；　with　occasional　drenching　plumps。　　We　　were　soaked　to　the　skin；　then　partially　dried　in　the　sun；　then　　soaked　once　more。　　But　there　were　some　calm　intervals；　and　one　　notably；　when　we　were　skirting　the　forest　of　Mormal；　a　sinister　　name　to　the　ear；　but　a　place　most　gratifying　to　sight　and　smell。　　　It　looked　solemn　along　the　river…side；　drooping　its　boughs　into　the　　water；　and　piling　them　up　aloft　into　a　wall　of　leaves。　　What　is　a　　forest　but　a　city　of　nature's　own；　full　of　hardy　and　innocuous　　living　things；　where　there　is　nothing　dead　and　nothing　made　with　　the　hands；　but　the　citizens　themselves　are　the　houses　and　public　　monuments？　　There　is　nothing　so　much　alive；　and　yet　so　quiet；　as　a　　woodland；　and　a　pair　of　people；　swinging　past　in　canoes；　feel　very　　small　and　bustling　by　comparison。

And　surely　of　all　smells　in　the　world；　the　smell　of　many　trees　is　　the　sweetest　and　most　fortifying。　　The　sea　has　a　rude；　pistolling　　sort　of　odour；　that　takes　you　in　the　nostrils　like　snuff；　and　　carries　with　it　a　fine　sentiment　of　open　water　and　tall　ships；　but　　the　smell　of　a　forest；　which　comes　nearest　to　this　in　tonic　　quality；　surpasses　it　by　many　degrees　in　the　quality　of　softness。　　　Again；　the　smell　of　the　sea　has　little　variety；　but　the　smell　of　a　　forest　is　infinitely　changeful；　it　varies　with　the　hour　of　the　day；　　not　in　strength　merely；　but　in　character；　and　the　different　sorts　　of　trees；　as　you　go　from　one　zone　of　the　wood　to　another；　seem　to　　live　among　different　kinds　of　atmosphere。　　Usually　the　resin　of　the　　fir　predominates。　　But　some　woods　are　more　coquettish　in　their　　habits；　and　the　breath　of　the　forest　of　Mormal；　as　it　came　aboard　　upon　us　that　showery　afternoon；　was　perfumed　with　nothing　less　　delicate　than　sweetbrier。

I　wish　our　way　had　always　lain　among　woods。　　Trees　are　the　most　　civil　society。　　An　old　oak　that　has　been　growing　where　he　stands　　since　before　the　Reformation；　taller　than　many　spires；　more　stately　　than　the　greater　part　of　mountains；　and　yet　a　living　thing；　liable　　to　sicknesses　and　death；　like　you　and　me：　　is　not　that　in　itself　a　　speaking　lesson　in　history？　　But　acres　on　acres　full　of　such　　patriarchs　contiguously　rooted；　their　green　tops　billowing　in　the　　wind；　their　stalwart　younglings　pushing　up　about　their　knees：　　a　　whole　forest；　healthy　and　beautiful；　giving　colour　to　the　light；　　giving　perfume　to　the　air：　　what　is　this　but　the　most　imposing　　piece　in　nature's　repertory？　　Heine　wished　to　lie　like　Merlin　under　　the　oaks　of　Broceliande。　　I　should　not　be　satisfied　with　one　tree；　　but　if　the　wood　grew　together　like　a　banyan　grove；　I　would　be　　buried　under　the　tap…root　of　the　whole；　my　parts　should　circulate　　from　oak　to　oak；　and　my　consciousness　should　be　diffused　abroad　in　　all　the　forest；　and　give　a　common　heart　to　that　assembly　of　green　　spires；　so　that　it　also　might　rejoice　in　its　own　loveliness　and　　dignity。　　I　think　I　feel　a　thousand　squirrels　leaping　from　bough　to　　bough　in　my　vast　mausoleum；　and　the　birds　and　the　winds　merrily　　coursing　over　its　uneven；　leafy　surface。

Alas！　the　forest　of　Mormal　is　only　a　little　bit　of　a　wood；　and　it　　was　but　for　a　little　way　that　we　skirted　by　its　boundaries。　　And　　the　rest　of　the　time　the　rain　kept　coming　in　squirts　and　the　wind　　in　squalls；　until　one's　heart　grew　weary　of　such　fitful；　scolding　　weather。　　It　was　odd　how　the　showers　began　when　we　had　to　carry　the　　boats　over　a　lock；　and　must　expose　our　legs。　　They　always　did。　　　This　is　a　sort　of　thing　that　readily　begets　a　personal　feeling　　against　nature。　　There　seems　no　reason　why　the　shower　should　not　　come　five　minutes　before　or　five　minutes　after；　unless　you　suppose　　an　intention　to　affront　you。　　The　CIGARETTE　had　a　mackintosh　which　　put　him　more　or　less　above　these　contrarieties。　　But　I　had　to　bear　　the　brunt　uncovered。　　I　began　to　remember　that　nature　was　a　woman。　　　My　companion；　in　a　rosier　temper；　listened　with　great　satisfaction　　to　my　Jeremiads；　and　ironically　concurred。　　He　instanced；　as　a　　cognate　matter；　the　action　of　the　tides；　'which；'　said　he；　'was　　altogether　designed　for　the　confusion　of　canoeists；　except　in　so　　far　as　it　was　calculated　to　minister　to　a　barren　vanity　on　the　part　　of　the　moon。'

At　the　last　lock；　some　little　way　out　of　Landrecies；　I　refused　to　　go　any　farther；　and　sat　in　a　drift　of　rain　by　the　side　of　the　bank；　　to　have　a　reviving　pipe。　　A　vivacious　old　man；　whom　I　take　to　have　　been　the　devil；　drew　near　and　questioned　me　about　our　journey。　　In　　the　fulness　of　my　heart；　I　laid　bare　our　plans　before　him。　　He　said　　it　was　the　silliest　enterprise　that　ever　he　heard　of。　　Why；　did　I　　not　know；　he　asked　me；　that　it　was　nothing　but　locks；　locks；　locks；　　the　whole　way？　not　to　mention　that；　at　this　season　of　the　year；　we　　should　find　the　Oise　quite　dry？　　'Get　into　a　train；　my　little　young　　man；'　said　he；　I　and　go　you　away　home　to　your　parents。'　　I　was　so　　astounded　at　the　man's　malice；　that　I　could　only　stare　at　him　in　　silence。　　A　tree　would　never　have　spoken　to　me　like　this。　　At　last　　I　got　out　with　some　words。　　We　had　come　from　Antwerp　already；　I　　told　him；　which　was　a　good　long　way；　and　we　should　do　the　rest　in　　spite　of　him。　　Yes；　I　said；　if　there　were　no　other　reason；　I　would　　do　it　now；　just　because　he　had　dared　to　say　we　could　not。　　The　　pleasant　old　gentleman　looked　at　me　sneeringly；　made　an　allusion　to　　my　canoe；　and　marched　of；　waggling　his　head。

I　was　still　inwardly　fuming；　when　up　came　a　pair　of　young　fellows；　　who　imagined　I　was　the　CIGARETTE'S　servant；　on　a　comparison；　I　　suppose；　of　my　bare　jersey　with　the　other's　mackintosh；　and　asked　　me　many　questions　about　my　place　and　my　master's　character。　　I　said　　he　was　a　good　enough　fellow；　but　had　this　absurd　voyage　on　the　　head。　　'O　no；　no；'　said　one；　'you　must　not　say　that；　it　is　not　　absurd；　it　is　very　courageous　of　him。'　　I　believe　these　were　a　　couple　of　angels　sent　to　give　me　heart　again。　　It　was　truly　　fortifying　to　reproduce　all　the　old　man's　insinuations；　as　if　they　　were　original　to　me　in　my　character　of　a　malcontent　footman；　and　　have　them　brushed　away　like　so　many　flies　by　these　admirable　young　　men。

When　I　recounted　this　affair　to　the　CIGARETTE；　'They　must　have　a　　curious　idea　of　how　English　servants　behave；'　says　he　dryly；　'for　　you　treated　me　like　a　brute　beast　at　the　lock。'

I　was　a　good　deal　mortified；　but　my　temper　had　suffered；　it　is　a　　fact。



AT　LANDRECIES



AT　Landrecies　the　rain　still　fell　and　the　wind　still　blew；　but　we　　found　a　double…bedded　room　with　plenty　of　furniture；　real　water…　jugs　with