We went to a good many shops, adopting this principle at each one; and the consequence was that, by the time we had finished, we had as fine a collection of boys with baskets following us around as heart could desire; and our final march down the middle of the High Street, to the river, must have been as imposing a spectacle as Marlow had seen for many a long day.
The order of the procession was as follows:—
- Montmorency, carrying a stick.
- Two disreputable-looking curs, friends of Montmorency’s.
- George, carrying coats and rugs, and smoking a short pipe.
- Harris, trying to walk with easy grace, while carrying a bulged-out Gladstone bag in one hand and a bottle of lime-juice in the other.
- Greengrocer’s boy and baker’s boy, with baskets.
- Boots from the hotel, carrying hamper.
- Confectioner’s boy, with basket.
- Grocer’s boy, with basket.
- Long-haired dog.
- Cheesemonger’s boy, with basket.
- Odd man carrying a bag.
- Bosom companion of odd man, with his hands in his pockets, smoking a short clay.
- Fruiterer’s boy, with basket.
- Myself, carrying three hats and a pair of boots, and trying to look as if I didn’t know it.
- Six small boys, and four stray dogs.
When we got down to the landing-stage, the boatman said:
“Let me see, sir; was yours a steam-launch or a houseboat?”
On our informing him it was a double-sculling skiff, he seemed surprised.