DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 43 



knows yer game directly they see a float, eh ? I 

 say. Why, when you do yer best the game is 

 hardly worth the candle, I say, Mr Geen, but if you 

 begin by showing 'em floats it's a mug's game." 



We met at Windsor, and, as I took my seat in 



the punt, I noticed that X had a trouble, but 



I did not ask the cause as I knew that I should be 

 made acquainted with it soon. 



" No motor-boat as yet, I say, Mr Geen, I say, 

 and not a wink of sleep, I say, not a wink, and 

 somebody else didn't either, and I'll see as she 

 don't until I gets the boat. Women are all very 

 well, but there's no business in 'em ; they can't 

 see farther than their noses. What's the use of 

 my telling her there's money in a motor-boat ? 

 Not a wink of sleep all night, I say, and there 

 won't be any, I say, Mr Geen ; would you ? " 



11 Well," I said, " I think if I were you I should 

 try some other plan, for you know it has been 

 written of woman : 



" She never slavishly submits ; 

 She'll have her will, or have her fits." 



How would it do for you to think you don't want 

 a motor-boat and to tell her that you are glad 

 now you took her advice?" 



He stayed his punting to reply: "Well! I'm 

 blowed if I didn't tell the missus, this very morn- 

 ing, that if I didn't want a motor-boat she'd be the 

 first to say to me : ' When every waterside man 

 who lets boats has got a motor on the hire system, 

 you'll be thinking about buying one I suppose ? ' 

 So she would, I say." 



I fear I was in a teasing mood, and I replied : 



