II 



OF THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE RIVER 



I AM going to fish. 

 It is true that there is an enormous deal to 

 be done in the house. The unpacking of the 

 American trunk is in itself a day's work. And 

 there is the drawing-room furniture to re- 

 arrange. 



Wherever we go and you must know that we 

 are always going somewhere this ceremony begins 

 our sojourn, because, as my wife would tell you, I 

 have my particular views upon the placing of 

 tables and chairs and the Oriental fabrics which 

 brighten up the dingiest room. I like to see what 

 is called 'the feminine touch' in my habitation. 

 What is good enough for careless bachelors is not 

 good enough, believe her, for me. I can never do 

 anything until I have got the harp out of the 

 harp-case and the harp-case into the back premises 

 out of sight ugly thing ! And if there is no sofa, 

 I will carry a bed down from an upper room and 

 cover it with djidjims and cushions and feign a 

 divan, rather than allow my drawing-room to lack 



13 



