CHAPTER XX 



IN SOMERSET 



What sort of a time have I not been having on 

 a big round in a short spell ! Wonderful — is it 

 not ? — what you can do if the trains fit in and 

 you are your own master, without appointments 

 to hang you up and prevent your keeping going. 

 Still, talking of engagements, I would be only 

 too happy to make one any time and cancel all 

 others if I might be certain of so charming a day 

 as I found one Wednesday in March, investiga- 

 ting North Somerset. Really, I had almost 

 forgotten what tonic weather was like, when the 

 air does more for you than the second go at a 

 tankard of champagne can — nothing ever did beat 

 the first bite if you wanted it. Such a bright 

 turn had not come my way for when ? — why, for 

 ** never." The load of dull clouded sky seemed 

 lifted ; the breeze nerved one up ; the sun was 

 hot, not warm, but downright scorching, 

 burning hot ; the sea sent ozone into your 

 system on some wireless telegraphic system of its 

 own ; vegetation was stirring — you almost might 

 hear it ; the birds of the air, and the water, too, 

 went about their affairs with a hard-times-come- 

 no-more air of jollity and independence. All 



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