100 words to know before reading Three Men in a Boat

1. Problems or troubles affecting a system or society.
2. A state of discomfort or unease.

than all the dispensary stuff. We sat there for half-an-hour, describing to each other our maladies. I explained to George and William Harris how I felt when I got up in the morning, and William

1. A feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness.
2. Excitement or joy that makes one feel carefree or silly.

and we were getting quite nervous about it. Harris said he felt such extraordinary fits of giddiness come over him at times, that he hardly knew what he was doing; and then George said that he had

1. A female domestic worker employed to clean and maintain a household.
2. A maid responsible for housekeeping duties like cleaning, laundry, and tidying.

1. A scientist specializing in chemistry.
2. A person who prepares and sells medicines; a pharmacist.

handed it back. He said he didn’t keep it. I said: “You are a chemist?” He said: “I am a chemist. If I was a cooperative stores and family hotel combined, I might be able to oblige you. Being

1. A person responsible for managing or overseeing something, such as property or an event.
2. A flight attendant on an aircraft.

fellow I knew went for a week’s voyage round the coast, and, before they started, the steward came to him to ask whether he would pay for each meal as he had it, or arrange beforehand for the

1. Sweet, red, juicy fruits with tiny seeds on the surface.
2. Low-growing perennial plants of the rose family.

boiled beef for weeks, and at other times it seemed that he must have been living on strawberries and cream for years. Neither the beef nor the strawberries and cream seemed happy, either—seemed

1. A structure extending into a body of water for docking boats or ships.
2. A platform supported by pillars, used for walking over water.

Horn. The vessel was wrecked the next morning.” I said: “Weren’t you a little shaky by Southend Pier one day, and wanted to be thrown overboard?” “Southend Pier!” he replied, with a puzzled

1. The evening meal, typically lighter than dinner.
2. A social gathering where a light evening meal is served.

Then we run our little boat into some quiet nook, and the tent is pitched, and the frugal supper cooked and eaten. Then the big pipes are filled and lighted, and the pleasant chat goes round in

1. The chest or breast of a person, especially a woman.
2. The part of a garment covering the chest.

and thrown you down to the bottom of the sea—the elephant still sleeping peacefully on your bosom. You wake up and grasp the idea that something terrible really has happened. Your first

1. Before (archaic or poetic)
2. In the presence of (archaic)

and sweet as she used to be ere the centuries of fret and care had furrowed her fair face, ere her children’s sins and follies had made old her loving heart—sweet as she was in those bygone

1. A distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash, such as barley, corn, rye, or wheat.
2. Typically aged in wooden casks, giving it a distinct flavor and color.

idea. It seemed to me the wrong spirit to go about the trip in. But I’m glad we took the whisky. We didn’t take beer or wine. They are a mistake up the river. They make you feel sleepy and

1. Slightly wet or moist.
2. To reduce the intensity or enthusiasm of something.

belief that, whenever Harris or George reached out their hand for anything, it was his cold, damp nose that they wanted. He put his leg into the jam, and he worried the teaspoons, and he

1. Falls suddenly or clumsily.
2. Declines rapidly in value or condition.

to you. And you follow each other round and round, swearing at one another, until the tent tumbles down in a heap, and leaves you looking at each other across its ruins, when you both indignantly

1. Relating to or resembling a ball (noun).
2. (British slang) An intensifier, often used to express annoyance or emphasis.

get fooling about with the boat, and slop me overboard. If you ask me, I call the whole thing bally foolishness.” We were three to one, however, and the motion was carried.

1. Supplies of food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.
2. Legal clauses or stipulations in a document.

puts up a picture—George makes a sensible remark—Delights of early morning bathing—Provisions for getting upset. So, on the following evening, we again assembled, to discuss and arrange our

1. A list or record of items, often with descriptions.
2. To make a systematic list of items.

to take with us. Now, you get a bit of paper and write down, J., and you get the grocery catalogue, George, and somebody give me a bit of pencil, and then I’ll make out a list.” That’s Harris all

1. A small square of cloth used for wiping the nose or face.
2. A decorative piece of fabric carried as an accessory.

for it at the last moment and carry it to the railway station, wrapped up in my pocket-handkerchief. Of course I had to turn every mortal thing out now, and, of course, I could not find it. I

1. Wood that has been processed into beams or planks for construction.
2. To move in a slow, heavy, or awkward manner.

sombre-waving rushes, or the sedges, or the orchids, or the blue forget-me-nots. Throw the lumber over, man! Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need—a homely home and

1. A waxy, flammable substance derived from petroleum, used in candles and wax products.
2. British term for kerosene, a fuel oil used for heating and lighting.

IV The food question—Objections to paraffin oil as an atmosphere—Advantages of cheese as a travelling companion—A married woman deserts her

1. Treated or combined with a methyl group (chemistry).
2. Modified by adding methyl groups to a molecule (biochemistry).

course, in case of sickness. Therefore, in the present instance, we confined ourselves to methylated spirit. Even that is bad enough. You get methylated pie and methylated cake. But methylated

1. To flow or leak out slowly, often in a thick or viscous manner.
2. To exude or give off something gradually, like a liquid or quality.

a thing as paraffin oil is to ooze. We kept it in the nose of the boat, and, from there, it oozed down to the rudder, impregnating the whole boat and everything in it on its way, and it oozed

1. The reflexive form of "we," referring to the speaker and others.
2. Used for emphasis to indicate "we" and no one else.

the bath where he could tumble into it on getting out in the morning, and went to bed ourselves.

1. A large basket, typically with a lid, used for storage or carrying items.
2. To hinder or impede the progress of something.

and he worried the teaspoons, and he pretended that the lemons were rats, and got into the hamper and killed three of them before Harris could land him with the frying-pan. Harris said I

1. To inhale air audibly through the nose to detect smells.
2. To investigate or pry into something discreetly.

oppressive,” said the man next him. And then they both began sniffing, and, at the third sniff, they caught it right on the chest, and rose up without another word and went out. And then a

1. A prediction of future events, especially weather or financial trends.
2. To estimate or calculate in advance.

V Mrs. P. arouses us—George, the sluggard—The “weather forecast” swindle—Our luggage—Depravity of the small boy—The people gather round us—We drive off in

1. Suitcases, bags, or other containers used to carry personal belongings while traveling.
2. The collective term for a traveler's packed items.

V Mrs. P. arouses us—George, the sluggard—The “weather forecast” swindle—Our luggage—Depravity of the small boy—The people gather round us—We drive off in great style, and arrive

1. A decisive defeat or failure.
2. A city in Belgium where Napoleon was defeated in 1815.

amidst the cheers of the crowd, Biggs’s boy shying a carrot after us for luck. We got to Waterloo at eleven, and asked where the eleven-five started from. Of course nobody knew; nobody at

1. A surname of English origin.
2. Slang term for something large or impressive.

got interested in the show, apparently, and stopped. Biggs’s boy was the first to come round. Biggs is our greengrocer, and his chief talent lies in securing the services of the most abandoned and

1. A person employed to carry luggage and other loads.
2. A dark brown beer brewed from malt.

The porter who took our things thought it would go from number two platform, while another porter, with whom he discussed the question, had heard a rumour that it would go from number one. The

1. Shaped or cut from a material (like wood or stone) using tools.
2. Decorated with intricate designs by cutting into a surface.

VI Kingston—Instructive remarks on early English history—Instructive observations on carved oak and life in general—Sad case of Stivvings, junior—Musings on antiquity—I forget that I am

1. A complex network of paths or passages designed to confuse or challenge navigation.
2. A confusing or intricate arrangement or situation.

go in here, so that you can say you’ve been, but it’s very simple. It’s absurd to call it a maze. You keep on taking the first turning to the right. We’ll just walk round for ten minutes, and

1. Flat-bottomed boats used for transporting goods on rivers and canals.
2. To move forcefully or clumsily.

once more when Hampton Court became the palace of the Tudors and the Stuarts, and the royal barges strained at their moorings on the river’s bank, and bright-cloaked gallants swaggered down the

1. A title used by Roman emperors, derived from Julius Caesar.
2. A type of salad made with romaine lettuce, croutons, and Caesar dressing.

as it was once called in the days when Saxon “kinges” were crowned there. Great Caesar crossed the river there, and the Roman legions camped upon its sloping uplands. Caesar, like, in

1. Used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to a group previously mentioned.
2. Used for emphasis to refer to a group previously mentioned.

and the other three passengers tried to get out of the door at the same time, and hurt themselves. I smiled at the black gentleman, and said I thought we were going to have the carriage to

1. Decorative objects used to enhance beauty.
2. Items added to embellish or adorn something.

and stood upon a bracket, and dusted only by the lady of the house? That china dog that ornaments the bedroom of my furnished lodgings. It is a white dog. Its eyes blue. Its nose is a delicate

1. A lightweight jacket, often part of a uniform or worn for smart-casual occasions.
2. A type of sports coat, typically solid-colored with metal buttons.

the wooded towpath, the trim-kept villas on the other side, Harris, in a red and orange blazer, grunting away at the sculls, the distant glimpses of the grey old palace of the Tudors, all made

1. Boxes used to bury the dead.
2. Typically made of wood or metal.

day with the fashion-plate young lady—Mrs. Thomas’s tomb—The man who loves not graves and coffins and skulls—Harris mad—His views on George and Banks and lemonade—He performs tricks. It was

1. A meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or countryside.
2. A social gathering where food is shared outside.

up.” And he made them do it, too. He told them that that sort of thing was half the fun of a picnic. They said it was very interesting. Now I come to think it over, was that young man as

1. (n.) A strong, continuous current or flow, especially in water or air.
2. (v.) To move in or as if in a surging motion.

a shrill piping voice crying out: “All right, sur, I’m a-coming, I’m a-coming. It’s all right, sur; don’t you be in a hurry.” I looked up, and saw an old bald-headed man hobbling across the

1. A group of singers performing together, often in musicals or operas.
2. The refrain or repeated section of a song.

Till now I am the ruler of the Queen’s navee.’ “Now then, chorus—it is the last two lines repeated, you know. General Chorus “And he

1. An introductory piece of music.
2. An event or action that precedes something more important.

arrives for Harris to join in. Harris takes no notice of it. Nervous pianist commences prelude over again, and Harris, commencing singing at the same time, dashes off the first two lines of

1. To cheat or swindle someone (verb).
2. To waste time or dawdle (verb).

And I—and I—Oh, well, we’ll get on to the chorus, and chance it sings: “ ‘And I diddle-diddle-diddle-diddle-diddle-diddle-de, Till now I am the ruler of the Queen’s navee.’ “Now then,

1. Laughed lightly or nervously in a high-pitched manner.
2. Giggled quietly, often due to amusement or embarrassment.

the young men tittered, and roared when the young men roared; and, as the two young men tittered and roared and exploded with laughter pretty continuously all through the song, it went

1. Made a loud, deep sound like a lion or thunder.
2. Laughed loudly and heartily.

men tittered, and roared when the young men roared; and, as the two young men tittered and roared and exploded with laughter pretty continuously all through the song, it went exceedingly well.

1. Ropes or cables used for towing boats or ships.
2. Lines connecting a vehicle to what it is pulling.

IX George is introduced to work—Heathenish instincts of towlines—Ungrateful conduct of a double-sculling skiff—Towers and towed—A use discovered for

1. Pulled or dragged behind a vehicle, like a trailer or boat.
2. Moved something by attaching it to a towing vehicle.

instincts of towlines—Ungrateful conduct of a double-sculling skiff—Towers and towed—A use discovered for lovers—Strange disappearance of an elderly lady—Much haste, less

1. A rope or cable used for towing boats or other objects.
2. A line connecting a tugboat to the vessel it is towing.

there may be such towlines; I sincerely hope there are. But I have not met with them. This towline I had taken in myself just before we had got to the lock. I would not let Harris touch it,

1. To free from entanglement or confusion.
2. To separate or untangle twisted or knotted threads.

you a good half-hour, sitting down there on the grass and swearing all the while, to disentangle it again. That is my opinion of towlines in general. Of course, there may be honourable

1. Pulling a vehicle or boat behind another using a rope, chain, or hitch.
2. The service of moving disabled or illegally parked vehicles.

at the lock, that young couple grasped the idea that, for the last two miles, they had been towing the wrong boat. George fancied that, if it had not been for the restraining influence of the

1. A strong, coarse cloth used for making sails, tents, or paintings.
2. A piece of fabric stretched over a frame for painting.

the business at all myself. I had been told to stand where I was, and wait till the canvas came to me, and Montmorency and I stood there and waited, both as good as gold. We could see the

1. Visually attractive, especially in a charming or quaint way.
2. Resembling or suitable for a painting or picture.

to be found round that tiny shore. But, somehow, we did not feel that we yearned for the picturesque nearly so much now as we had earlier in the day. A bit of water between a coal-barge and a

1. Circular bands used in games like basketball, where players aim to score by throwing a ball through them.
2. A term referring to the sport of basketball itself.

looking back now, the wonder to me is that any of us are alive to tell the tale. They were not hoops, they were demons. First they would not fit into their sockets at all, and we had to jump on

1. Movable joints that allow doors, lids, or gates to swing open or closed.
2. Pivotal points or factors on which something depends or turns.

us. They had hinges in the middle, and, when we were not looking, they nipped us with these hinges in delicate parts of the body; and, while we were wrestling with one side of the hoop, and

1. A metal container with a lid, spout, and handle, used for boiling water.
2. A large pot used for cooking or boiling liquids.

life than they did. After George had got it off his slipper, they tried to put it in the kettle. It wouldn’t go in, and what was in wouldn’t come out. They did scrape it out at last, and put it

1. A small establishment providing lodging, food, and drink (often in a rural setting).
2. A tavern or pub.

me out.” “So’s mine! I say, I don’t think much of this inn, do you?” “What was the name of that inn?” said Harris. “The Pig and Whistle,” said George. “Why?” “Ah, no, then it isn’t the same,”

1. A person who hitchhikes or seeks free rides.
2. A device or tool used for hitching or attaching things.

them up, but, at that moment, a bright idea flashed across him, and he didn’t. He got the hitcher instead, and reached over, and drew in the end of the towline; and they made a loop in it, and

1. Garments covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with separate sections for each leg.
2. Also known as pants in some regions.

or influence, and with no experience in washing, could really clean their own shirts and trousers in the river Thames with a bit of soap. We were to learn in the days to come, when it was too

1. Spoke in a rapid, confused, or agitated manner with spitting sounds.
2. Made a series of explosive spitting or choking noises.

for its proper cooking. Montmorency went and put his nose over it once, and the fat spluttered up and scalded him, and then he began dancing and cursing. Altogether it was one of the most

1. Mixed or stirred together randomly (e.g., scrambled eggs).
2. Made unclear or confusing (e.g., scrambled signals).

and when out on yachts. He was quite famous for them. People who had once tasted his scrambled eggs, so we gathered from his conversation, never cared for any other food afterwards, but pined

1. Soldiers hired to fight in foreign conflicts for pay.
2. Professionals motivated primarily by financial gain rather than loyalty.

camps, as here some great lord’s followers lie mustered, and there false John’s French mercenaries hover like crouching wolves without the town. And so, with sentinel in each dark street, and

1. A spicy condiment made from mustard seeds.
2. A plant whose seeds are used to make the condiment.

to bring any mustard. I don’t think I ever in my life, before or since, felt I wanted mustard as badly as I felt I wanted it then. I don’t care for mustard as a rule, and it is very seldom

1. The hymen, a membrane at the vaginal opening traditionally associated with virginity.
2. A town in Berkshire, England, known for its historic landmarks.

He and three other men, so he said, were sculling a very heavily laden boat up from Maidenhead one evening, and a little above Cookham lock they noticed a fellow and a girl, walking along the

1. A climbing shrub with fragrant, tubular flowers, often pink or yellow.
2. The sweet nectar from these flowers, sometimes used in food or drinks.

was no honeysuckle about it, and, for some reason or other, I had got my mind fixed on honeysuckle, and I said: “Oh, don’t let’s go in there! Let’s go on a bit further, and see if there isn’t one

1. A tall upright post on a ship supporting sails or rigging.
2. A vertical structure for supporting antennas or flags.

else’s way, or for anybody else to get out of theirs. Their line gets hitched across your mast, and overturns you, or it catches somebody in the boat, and either throws them into the water, or

1. A piece of fabric attached to a boat to catch wind and propel it forward.
2. To travel on water using sails or a sailing vessel.

lay alongside us. It contained a party of provincial ’Arrys and ’Arriets, out for a moonlight sail. (There was not any moon, but that was not their fault.) I never saw more attractive, lovable

1. A monastery or convent governed by an abbot or abbess.
2. The church or buildings associated with such a religious community.

earthly kingdoms; and Salisbury, who did good service at Poitiers. Just before you come to the abbey, and right on the river’s bank, is Bisham Church, and, perhaps, if any tombs are worth

1. A small, energetic dog breed originally bred for hunting.
2. A member of the Territorial Army in the UK.

sent upon the earth, for some reason withheld from mankind, in the shape of a small fox-terrier. There is a sort of

1. A breed of dog known for its curly coat and intelligence.
2. (Slang) A person who blindly follows orders or is subservient.

and dignified. He looked at the bulldog, sleeping dreamlessly on his right. He looked at the poodle, erect and haughty, on his left. Then, without a word of warning, without the shadow of a

1. Having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect.
2. Characterized by nobility or elegance in appearance or behavior.

was what I should call a full-bodied dog, with a well-developed chest. On he came, serene, dignified, and calm, until he was abreast of our boat, and there, among the rushes, he eased up, and

1. Looked steadily and intently, often with admiration or curiosity.
2. Stared fixedly for a long time, sometimes absentmindedly.

those great nasty brutes of dogs had been doing to him; and he nestled up against her, and gazed up into her face with a look that seemed to say: “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come to take me away

1. A dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid.
2. To cook food slowly in liquid.

XIV Wargrave—Waxworks—Sonning—Our stew—Montmorency is sarcastic—Fight between Montmorency and the teakettle—George’s banjo

1. A stringed musical instrument with a circular body and a long neck, played by plucking or strumming.
2. Often associated with folk, country, and bluegrass music.

party—Shameful conduct of two abandoned young men—Some useless information—George buys a banjo. We stopped under the willows by Kempton Park, and lunched. It is a pretty little spot there: a

1. Large water birds with long necks, known for their grace and beauty.
2. To move or behave in a smooth, graceful manner.

had gone away, and fetched up her old man. Harris said he had had quite a fight with these two swans; but courage and skill had prevailed in the end, and he had defeated them. Half-an-hour

1. A type of sleeveless shirt with a round neckline and buttons at the top.
2. A town in Oxfordshire, England, known for its annual Royal Regatta.

chatting genially to some old lock-keeper, as he passes through—until well the other side of Henley, it is somewhat bare and dull. We got up tolerably early on the Monday morning at Marlow, and

1. Kicking a ball in sports like football or rugby before it drops to the ground.
2. Boating in a shallow, flat-bottomed boat using a pole.

the thing in style—The old boatman, his method—So calm, so full of peace—The beginner—Punting—A sad accident—Pleasures of friendship—Sailing, my first experience—Possible reason why we

1. The act of traveling or moving over water in a boat or ship.
2. The sport or activity of operating a sailboat.

the mast, and the boat flew. I steered. There is no more thrilling sensation I know of than sailing. It comes as near to flying as man has got to yet—except in dreams. The wings of the rushing

1. A small, light rowboat designed for one or two people.
2. (Verb) To propel a boat using oars, especially in a racing context.

out to midstream and turns round, before you know what has happened, or can get hold of a scull. Then they stand up, and are surprised. “Oh, look!” they say; “he’s gone right out into the

1. Oars used for rowing a boat, typically one per person.
2. The act of rowing with sculls.

and take them back to Edo as ancient English curios. At this point Harris threw away the sculls, got up and left his seat, and sat on his back, and stuck his legs in the air. Montmorency

1. A flat-bottomed boat with a square end, moved by a pole (noun).
2. To kick a ball dropped from the hands before it hits the ground (verb).

that the three men fishing seemed old and solemn-looking men. They sat on three chairs in the punt, and watched intently their lines. And the red sunset threw a mystic light upon the waters, and

1. To stay in a place longer than necessary.
2. To remain in existence, though fading gradually.

We came in sight of Reading about eleven. The river is dirty and dismal here. One does not linger in the neighbourhood of Reading. The town itself is a famous old place, dating from the dim days

1. A local area or community where people live.
2. The surrounding region near a particular place.

fever; and he always had chilblains. During the great cholera scare of 1871, our neighbourhood was singularly free from it. There was only one reputed case in the whole parish: that case was

1. Highly pleasing or enjoyable.
2. Charming or attractive in a cheerful way.

friends of mine, and they towed us up to within about a mile of Streatley. It is very delightful being towed up by a launch. I prefer it myself to rowing. The run would have been more delightful

1. Misled or tricked into believing something false.
2. Caused to accept an untruth as true.

Of course it was the old, old vulgar tragedy. She had loved and been deceived—or had deceived herself. Anyhow, she had sinned—some of us do now and then—and her family and friends,

1. A former British currency unit, equal to 1/20 of a pound or 12 pence.
2. The basic monetary unit of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia.

on a cold night; and had learned that the gardener, unknown to myself, had won thirty shillings by backing him to kill rats against time, then I began to think that maybe they’d let him remain

1. Used to emphasize a statement or response.
2. Truly or certainly (often expressing agreement).

after him, until the distance hid them from view. I cannot say I was sorry at their mishap. Indeed, I only wish that all the young fools who have their boats towed in this fashion—and plenty

1. A branch or rod where birds rest.
2. A freshwater fish with spiny fins.

and perch are also to be had about here,” but there the Angler’s Guide is wrong. Jack and perch may be about there. Indeed, I know for a fact that they are. You can see them there in shoals,

1. The number equivalent to four times ten (40).
2. A term used to describe a quantity or age.

moment the man did it, and the boat rushed up the bank with a noise like the ripping up of forty thousand linen sheets. Two men, a hamper, and three oars immediately left the boat on the

1. A freshwater fish of the salmon family, known for its speckled skin and prized as food.
2. Slang term for an attractive older woman.

upon a dusty old glass-case, fixed very high up above the chimneypiece, and containing a trout. It rather fascinated me, that trout; it was such a monstrous fish. In fact, at first glance, I

1. Worthy of attention; striking or unusual.
2. Exceptionally good or impressive.

a somewhat startling though cheerful paper of a blue ground. There was nothing, however, remarkable about the apartment, and my friend wondered why he had been brought there. The proprietor went up

1. Mixed or blended together (e.g., emotions, sounds, or substances).
2. Socially interacted or joined in a group.

and he held on to ropes and things and went down. A pleasant odour of onions and hot ham, mingled with fried fish and greens, greeted him at the bottom of the ladder; and then the steward came up

1. A long pole with a flat blade at one end, used for rowing a boat.
2. To propel or steer a boat using oars.

most bloodcurdling language to them. When another boat gets in my way, I feel I want to take an oar and kill all the people in it. The mildest tempered people, when on land, become violent and

1. Structures built to defend against attacks (e.g., walls, trenches).
2. The act or process of strengthening defenses.

city on the water.” In more recent times the Romans formed a great camp here, the fortifications surrounding which now seem like low, even hills. In Saxon days it was the capital of Wessex. It

1. A cereal grain used for food, animal feed, and brewing beer.
2. A hardy grass cultivated in temperate climates.

is always “divinely tall,” and she is ever “drawing herself up to her full height.” At the Barley Mow she would bump her head against the ceiling each time she did this. It would also be a bad

1. To cut down grass or vegetation with a scythe or machine.
2. A stack of hay, grain, or other crop stored in a barn.

If you stay the night on land at Clifton, you cannot do better than put up at the Barley Mow. It is, without exception, I should say, the quaintest, most old-world inn up the river. It

1. A tall, four-sided stone pillar tapering to a pyramid-like top.
2. A symbol or monument often used in ancient Egyptian architecture.

the spot where two men have already been drowned, while bathing there; and the steps of the obelisk are generally used as a diving-board by young men now who wish to see if the place really is

1. A large flat-bottomed boat used for transporting goods on rivers and canals.
2. To move forcefully or clumsily, often in a disruptive manner.

a small boat came in sight, towed through the water at a tremendous pace by a powerful barge horse, on which sat a very small boy. Scattered about the boat, in dreamy and reposeful

1. Rowing a boat with a single oar at the stern.
2. Propelling a boat by moving an oar from side to side at the stern.

comfortable up against the stake. You are liable to occasionally splash a little when sculling, and it appeared that a drop of water ruined those costumes. The mark never came out, and a stain

1. A small, light boat for rowing or sailing, often used for short trips.
2. A flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.

we did not know what it was when we did see it. We had written for a boat—a double sculling skiff; and when we went down with our bags to the yard, and gave our names, the man said: “Oh, yes;

1. A box or container in which a deceased person is buried or cremated.
2. (Verb) To place or enclose something in a coffin.

was that it was a Roman relic of some sort—relic of what I do not know, possibly of a coffin. The neighbourhood of the upper Thames is rich in Roman relics, and my surmise seemed to me a

1. A member of the Romani people, traditionally nomadic.
2. A person who leads a wandering or unconventional lifestyle.

it was myself—made a few feeble attempts during the course of the morning to work up the old gipsy foolishness about being children of Nature and enjoying the wet; but it did not go down well at