Walton's River. 99 



woman insisted upon having the window down, and her 

 elder took a turn at the flask. The train rattled along 

 famously, but the uproar from engine to brake-van was heard 

 above all. Children squalled, discords from the musical 

 instruments prevailed, break-downs on the carriage floors 

 were heard. As I observed above, a quiet day by Walton's 

 river seemed to be a heaven-sent inspiration. 



This lively freight was of course destined for Rye House 

 the grounds of which were already thickly peopled with 

 excursionists who had preceded us. Whether the men 

 adorned with sashes were members of some society I was 

 not informed ; whether the women who accompanied them 

 were wives or daughters I did not inquire; whether they 

 had travelled by rail or come down in the collection of vans 

 drawn up in position in the meadow is not of much im- 

 portance, but a larger number of fairly dressed men, 

 apparently mechanics, and women of the same class, over- 

 seen in drink before two o'clock in the day, I had never 

 before seen and would fain hope shall never see again. 

 These people threw a sinister shade over an otherwise bright 

 picture. There were hundreds of children present enjoying 

 the many attractions of the place with the light-heartedness 

 common to scholars on their annual outing; there were 

 families of respectable working folks quietly examining the 

 curiosities to be seen, and strolling through the prettily laid 

 out gardens ; but these hundred or two of club men of some 

 kind, dancing and whooping, obtruded themselves in the 

 arbours, fields, and recreation-ground, giving the place, 

 which is extremely interesting, and the rest of the company, 

 which was numerous and well-behaved, a character which 

 neither deserved. 



Another time I should have explored the Retainers' Hall, 

 examined the Great Bed of Ware, descended to the dungeon 



