登陆注册
15287500000011

第11章 THE PLANS(2)

The distance from Oxford to Stratford was thirty-nine miles, and it was decided to do this in three days, which meant thirteen miles a day.The first night, therefore, would be spent near Wooestock, the next near Chipping Norton, and the third near Shipston down in the green meadows on the banks of the Stour.At Stratford they would find Mrs.Avory waiting for them, and stay with her at the Shakespeare Hotel for a day or so.By that time they would know exactly how much or how little they liked the caravan, and what things were necessary; and then Mrs.Avory would go back and they would begin their real adventures.Could anything be better? Although, of course, Robert was very contemptuous of the Shakespeare Hotel part of the programme."The idea of sleeping in a bed!" he said.

The next thing to do was to apportion the various duties.Kink, of course, was arranged for; he was to drive and to look after the horse and sleep as near the caravan as could be managed; while Diogenes was always to be on guard.Kink also was to see about water.

Janet was purser and steward.She had to decide what food was wanted, and to keep the money.Hester was the official letter-writer, and was under a promise to write home every other evening.Robert was the guide and geographer; he kept the maps.He was also the telegraphist.Mary Rotheram, who had taken lessons in cooking, was chief cook, and she was to be helped by Janet.Jack was superintendent of the washing-up, and Horace Campbell was his principal ally.(How tired they got of it!) Jack, Horace, and Robert were carriers between the grocer's, the butcher's, the baker's, and the Slowcoach.

It was arranged that Gregory, being the smallest and weakest, and therefore the least likely to be refused, should go on and ask leave of the farmers on whose land it was proposed to rest the caravan at night.Mary Rotheram should be his companion, and ask for eggs and milk at the same time.

Next came the victualling, and this was exceedingly interesting, although it made great holes in the sovereign box.Janet and Mary Rotheram sat for hours over the Stores List, and they were continually taking important questions to Collins.

"How many tins of mustard ought we to take? A dozen at fourpence? ""Mustard, Miss Mary? Why, two penny ones would be enough for a month."(Three and tenpence saved, you see.)

"I say, Collins, how long do eggs boil?"

"Collins, you have to prick sausages, don't you, or else they burst?""Collins, how many loaves do eight people want a day?""Four, Miss Janet, at the least--large ones.""Including Kink? " Janet explained.

"Oh, Kink too! Five, then, if not six, the old gormandizer.""Collins, what's the best part of beef for stewing?""Collins, you can put anything into a stew, can't you? Absolutely anything?""Collins, if you've put too much pepper into a thing, is there any way of getting it out again?"Mrs.Avory was very particular about tinned things."You must have plenty of tongues," she said, "in case the fire won't burn or the meat is too tough;" and privately she instructed Kink to keep an eye on their eating.

"They must eat, Kink, don't forget.Never mind what they say; make them eat sensibly." To the stores Mrs.Avory herself added a number of tongues and a good deal of plain chocolate.

The day for Kink's departure--at least three days before the others were to leave--at last arrived, and by eleven o'clock everything was ready: Kink was seated on the shafts, with the reins in one hand, and in the other an ancient map of the road from London to Oxford, which Robert had found in one of his father's Road Books, of which there were many in the library, and had carefully traced.It was called _Britannia Depicta;_ OR, _"Ogilby"Improved,_ 1753, and, so that you may see what kind of help Kink was offered, I have had the map reproduced here.Kink, I may say, having some difficulty in reading even the plain print of the morning paper, held the tracing in his hand only so far as he was in sight.He then folded it up and placed it in his pocket, and when he was in any doubt as to the way, asked the first person he met.

Mr.Lenox and Mr.Scott were both there in time to see the start of the Slowcoach, as they had decided to call it.Also present at the start was the greater part of adult Chiswick and all its children, who filled the street opposite "The Gables" and cheered.Kink accepted their enthusiasm with calm, but as he said afterwards to Collins, "I felt like the Prince of Wales and all the royal family."Both Mr.Scott and Mr.Lenox brought contributions to the Slowcoach's stores.Mr.Scott's was a large bundle of firelighters and twelve dozen boxes of matches."You can't have too many matches," he said.Mr.Lenox's was ointment for blisters.

Uncle Christopher was also there to see the start, and he brought with him an envelope."This envelope," he said, "is not to be opened unless you're in any very serious difficulty.Then open it."And so, in a scene of wild excitement, Kink cracked his whip, Moses strained at the collar, the Slowcoach creaked heavily out of the yard, and its historic journey was begun.

同类推荐
  • 佛法金汤编

    佛法金汤编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 茗笈

    茗笈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 全宋文

    全宋文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 云门麦浪怀禅师宗门设难

    云门麦浪怀禅师宗门设难

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 笔阵图

    笔阵图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 萌神要退货:独占男神250天

    萌神要退货:独占男神250天

    “号外!号外!比冰山还要更冰山的大少爷养了一条狗!还是一条名为夏晚安的哈巴狗!”这条消息不仅震惊了整个学院,更是惹火了夏晚安本人,于是,“啪——”的把报纸甩到正淡定玩着游戏机的某人面前,火气十足地质问道:“面瘫男,你几个意思!你说谁是狗了!”某人连眸都没抬起,冷冷开口道:“你知道三点水,加王字读什么?”“汪啊!”“乖!”夏晚安呆愣几秒,随即抓狂而去,泪流满面的对着天空握起小拳头,愤愤起誓道:“面瘫男!终有一天,我要你在我面前摇尾乞怜!”
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 星学院最后的危机

    星学院最后的危机

    这是一个属于魔法的世界,我们可以一起去感觉他们的风彩口让我们一起走进书中
  • 轩缘帝国

    轩缘帝国

    这是史上第一部“网络游戏公会发展史”类小说……这是一个真实的故事——一个名叫“轩缘”的网游公会的真实历史……从2005年至今,多少传说与离奇并存、多少光荣与使命并驱、多少阴谋与仇恨并行……这个游戏公会界的绝对帝国,鼎盛时期拥有将近5000名会员、语音频道每日千余人的在线率、一个门户网站与两个专业级论坛、13个独立军团与5个嫡系军团,更还有各种媒体、游戏厂商运营商认证的多个“NO.1”等等……简介不好看,那么……请直接看故事吧……最近开办书迷群:423597756
  • 好幸运有你

    好幸运有你

    作为一个三十岁还嫁不出去的剩女,云萧曾以为,这辈子也许就这样一个人过下去了。谁知一场意外,醒来却成了另一个人,开始了属于他的一场不一样的生活......
  • 一代凶神

    一代凶神

    这是一个血脉纵横的世界,龙王,魔神,大帝,一个个顶尖的血脉拥有者主宰着这个世界。他,原本是普普通通的人,但却因一场厄运而改变了人生。从此,他踏上了不平凡的路。龙王又如何?屠杀!魔神又怎样?吃了!大帝奈我何?斩了!他一步步的踏上觉醒之路,屠龙王,饮魔血,斩大帝,成就了他赫赫的一代凶神之名!=================================================================================================================================================================
  • 水穷路曼曼,云起越回声

    水穷路曼曼,云起越回声

    如果欠你了太多,我愿意用尽一生去偿还。行到水穷处,坐看云起时。时光带走了青春,留下了你我。
  • 萌爱神偷:公主病和王子疯

    萌爱神偷:公主病和王子疯

    快换个环境会计和健康个梵蒂冈和计划工程系
  • tfboys之童年的约定

    tfboys之童年的约定

    幼时小男孩遇见小女孩,两人成为非常好的朋友,可有一天,小男孩不得不离开小女孩,小男孩便给了小女孩一条项链,承诺以后一定会去找小女孩。两人都长大了,男孩找过女孩,也去了幼时见面的地方,可始终找不到她。突然,女孩出现了,究竟男孩能不能认出她呢.......
  • 雅思英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    雅思英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    书中所收录的单词都是从历届雅思考试题中提炼出来的。编者利用先进的电脑统计分析技术,对历年考试题中出现的单词进行系统的电脑分频,将历年考题中出现频率较高的单词甄选出来,标注为常考单词。考题中出现频率较低的,但是考试范围内的单词,标注为普通单词。极大地方便了考生有的放矢地去背单词。