XV

Household duties⁠—Love of work⁠—The old river hand, what he does and what he tells you he has done⁠—Scepticism of the new generation⁠—Early boating recollections⁠—Rafting⁠—George does the thing in style⁠—The old boatman, his method⁠—So calm, so full of peace⁠—The beginner⁠—Punting⁠—A sad accident⁠—Pleasures of friendship⁠—Sailing, my first experience⁠—Possible reason why we were not drowned.

We woke late the next morning, and, at Harris’s earnest desire, partook of a plain breakfast, with “non dainties.” Then we cleaned up, and put everything straight (a continual labour, which was beginning to afford me a pretty clear insight into a question that had often posed me⁠—namely, how a woman with the work of only one house on her hands manages to pass away her time), and, at about ten, set out on what we had determined should be a good day’s journey.