A DESULTORY PILGRIMAGE 29 



engagements. Even our pleasures are seldom 

 emancipated from these requirements; they 

 are dependent on boats and trolley cars and 

 trains, they are measured out in hours and 

 minutes, and we snatch them running, as the 

 Israelites did their water. But this trip of ours 

 was bounded only by the circle of the week, 

 and conditioned only by the limitations of Kit. 

 No one could telephone to us, even at night, 

 because no one knew where we were to be. As 

 for trains, we never once saw one. Now and 

 then we heard one whistle, so far away that 

 it merely emphasized its own remoteness, and 

 a few times we were compelled to cross over 

 or under a track a very little track, and 

 single at that; beyond this our connection 

 with the symbol of Hurry did not go. 



The limitations of Kit were indeed definite 

 and insurmountable. While her speed on a 

 level was most moderate, uphill it was actu 

 ally glacial, and going downhill it was little 

 better. For Kit had come from the level West, 

 and being, as we have said, conservative, she 

 could never reach any real understanding of 

 hills. She was willing and conscientious, but 

 prudent, and although she went downhill 



