MR. TINTERN AGAIN 217 



seen, not a breath of air to ruffle the water ; so I 

 sent to awaken my companion. Breakfast was 

 prepared, but no Mr. Tintern. A little while after 

 1 heard a languid voice say, "Want some hot 

 water." A quarter of an hour elapsed, when I 

 heard the same words again ; after about a similar 

 interval of time I heard, " Want a stocking " ; and 

 then, after a long pause, " Want a stocking " again. 

 I was out of all patience ; so I went up to entreat 

 the man of wants to use more expedition, as we 

 were losing a very fine morning. 



I did not find him in his room, but sitting down 

 half dressed on the upper stair near it, looking at 

 his sketch-book. He had not shaved, as his hint 

 for hot water, having been uttered in a mild tone, 

 had not been taken. He did not so much care 

 about shaving, he said, but he could not go out 

 with only one stocking on, and he could not find 

 the other, and unluckily he had sent his dirty ones 

 to be washed. It certainly was true that one of his 

 legs was bare ; and, after a fruitless hunt, we had 

 nothing left for it but to send into the town and 

 buy a fresh pair. After they arrived, however, he 

 discovered that there was no particular necessity 

 for such a step, as he had favoured one leg at the 

 expense of the other, by putting both stockings on it. 



I had already breakfasted, and my impatience 

 increased ; so it was agreed that my friend should 

 take my host's little pony, and join me above 

 Melrose Bridge. When I got to the spot, Tom 

 Purdie, who was usually very forward on these 

 occasions, had not arrived; but I descried Mr. 

 Tintern at a distance, not upon the innkeeper's 



