AFTER RETURN HOME MARRIAGE 159 



way we visited and, some of them more than once, 

 Spa, Vichy, Contrexeville, Wildbad, Baden, Royat, 

 and Mont Dore les Bains. We also often went to the 

 Riviera and elsewhere. My finances had at this time to 

 be considered rather carefully, as an income which was 

 sure to arrive eventually was long delayed, and the 

 property that was to yield it entailed a cost that almost 

 swallowed up its profits. But there was no real stint ; 

 we had quite sufficient fortune for an unpretending 

 establishment, with abundant leisure besides. 



Certainly we led a life that many in our social rank 

 might envy. Among our friends were not a few 

 notable persons, a full half of whom were first known 

 to me through the connections of my wife. Then I 

 was blessed with an abundance of animal spirits and 

 hopefulness, though they were dashed temporarily 

 over and over again by the great readiness with 

 which my brain became overtaxed ; however, I always 

 recuperated quickly. Once I had a bad reminder of 

 my old Syrian ague, but, thanks to quinine 

 (which the ancients would have deified had they 

 known of its virtues), the malady passed away so far 

 out of sight as to have since recurred only at long 

 intervals. 



One of the pleasantest description of events in those 

 days were the long walks I took, especially at Easter- 

 time, with one or other of my brothers-in-law, or 

 with their or my own friends. Let me venture to 

 describe my own views as to provisions suitable for a 

 day's walk during a homely tramp. They are such as 

 can be procured at any town however small, are tasty, 

 easy to carry, exempt from butter, which is apt to leak 

 out of paper parcels, and are highly nutritious. They 



