What do
you think we are going to do - camp out?"
"No!" I replied. "But these are the things I have been advised to
take with me. What is the use of people giving you advice if you
don't take it?"
He said:
"Oh! take as much advice as you like; that always comes in useful to
give away. But, for goodness sake, don't get carrying all that
stuff about with you. People will take us for Gipsies."
I said:
"Now, it's no use your talking nonsense. Half the things on this
bed are life-preserving things. If people go into Germany without
these things, they come home and die."
And I related to him what the doctor and the vicar and the other
people had told me, and explained to him how my life depended upon
my taking brandy and blankets and sunshades and plenty of warm
clothing with me.
He is a man utterly indifferent to danger and risk - incurred by
other people - is B. He said:
"Oh, rubbish! You're not the sort that catches a cold and dies
young. You leave that co-operative stores of yours at home, and
pack up a tooth-brush, a comb, a pair of socks, and a shirt. That's
all you'll want."
I have packed more than that, but not much. At all events, I have
got everything into one small bag. I should like to have taken that
tea arrangement - it would have done so nicely to play at shop with
in the train! - but B. would not hear of it.
I hope the weather does not change.
FRIDAY, 23RD
Early Rising. - Ballast should be Stowed Away in the Hold before
Putting to Sea. - Annoying Interference of Providence in Matters that
it Does Not Understand. - A Socialistic Society. - B. Misjudges Me. -
An Uninteresting Anecdote. - We Lay in Ballast. - A Moderate Sailor. -
A Playful Boat.
I got up very early this morning. I do not know why I got up early.
We do not start till eight o'clock this evening. But I don't regret
it - the getting up early I mean. It is a change. I got everybody
else up too, and we all had breakfast at seven.
I made a very good lunch. One of those seafaring men said to me
once:
"Now, if ever you are going a short passage, and are at all nervous,
you lay in a good load. It's a good load in the hold what steadies
the ship. It's them half-empty cruisers as goes a-rollin' and a-
pitchin' and a-heavin' all over the place, with their stern up'ards
half the time. You lay in ballast."
It seemed very reasonable advice.
Aunt Emma came in the afternoon. She said she was so glad she had
caught me. Something told her to change her mind and come on Friday
instead of Saturday. It was Providence, she said.
I wish Providence would mind its own business, and not interfere in
my affairs:
