--Till in a moment of grief his hat and several sketches were carried off for ever: and then he thought it time to go below.
How a citizen of the United States addressed Brown; and how he put the following questions during the first five minutes of their acquaintance.
1. "Where are you going?"
2. "What place do you hail from?"
3. "Conclude you go toe Frankfort?"
4. "You're Mr. Brown, I reckon?"
5. "What names do your friends go by?"
Statements made during the same period.
1. "This here Rhine ain't much by the side of our Mississippi."
2. "Old Europe is 'tarnally chawed up."
BROWN'S HAT.
Robinson was very merry about this incident, and both he and Jones kept poking fun at Brown during the rest of the day. They parodied the well known song of "My heart's on the Rhine," substituting "My hat's in the Rhine;"--(it was very poor stuff, we have been assured by Brown)--and they made pointed allusions to the name of "Wide-Awake."
The above drawing is from a rude sketch by Jones.
THE SCENERY BECOMES MYSTERIOUS.
They now became enveloped in what seemed a combination of fog (London November) and mist (Scotch). Only think of those two national institutions going up the Rhine with the rest of the fashionable world.
At first it obscured the hill tops, with the ruins thereon; then the villages and vineyards below; and finally both banks of the river entirely disappeared. The company on board the steamboat did not, at this period, present the most cheerful aspect.
[MAYENCE TO FRANKFORT.]
How Robinson's favourite portmanteau, which he had forgotten to lock, was dropped accidentally by a porter while conveying it to the omnibus.
Jones hints to Robinson that it is time to get up.
[FRANKFORT.]
How they visited a "quarter" of the city of Frankfort, and what they saw there!
Robinson here wrote his celebrated letter to the "Times," on the subject of the deficiency of soap and water, from which, as we have seen in a former page, he suffered so grievously. It was conceived in terms of indignant eloquence; and drew a terrible picture of the state of social, political, and religious degradation into which a country must have sunk, where such things could be tolerated.
As they walked through the town, bent upon seeing the Ariadne, and unconscious of danger, suddenly an object appeared in sight that filled them with terror. It was the "Bore!" stepping jauntily along on the other side of the street. To hesitate was to be lost! So they plunged into the nearest shop for protection, and stood there breathless with expectation and fear. Presently Jones--putting his head very gradually out--reconnoitred, and finding all safe they resumed their way.
Robinson thinks it "the thing" to encourage native industry wherever he goes, and so buys a German pipe.
[HEIDELBERG.]
"Kellner!"
While Brown, Jones, and Robinson supped, a party of philosophers carry on an aesthetical discussion, with an accompaniment of pipes and beer.
"* * * The night was beautiful, so we determined after supper to have a look at the celebrated castle--Jones and I did, that is to say, for Robinson was so fatigued with travel that he declined moving, muttering something about 'Castle can wait.' We ascended; the moon shone brightly through the ruins, and bathed the landscape in its silvery light, the beautiful Neckar flowing at our feet. Under us lay the town, a thousand lights twinkling in the stillness." * * "Suddenly, to our horror, there appeared upon the terrace 'The Bore!'" --_Extract from Brown's Journal._
"At last he left us. But not before he had taken from his pocket a letter received that morning from Green ('You know Green, of course,'
he said, 'everybody does'), and read it aloud from beginning to end. It told of a 'good thing' said at the club by Smith; and of two marriages, and a duel likely to come off, besides several interesting particulars regarding the winner of the St. Leger." --_Ibid._
When Jones and Brown were left once more alone, they wandered and pondered amongst the ruins, and moralised over the instability of things--they were even becoming sentimental--when, suddenly, a terrific sound was heard--like the barking of a dog--and the next moment the animal himself was seen emerging from the darkness, and making towards them at the top of his speed. They turned and fled!
Meeting by moonlight.
Robinson, after the departure of Jones and Brown, seated himself before the fire and fell fast asleep.
He continued in that state, notwithstanding that the philosophers became very noisy, and even warlike.
--And although--after the latter had retired (fortunately without coming to blows)--his chair toppled over, he quietly assumed a horizontal position.
Fancy the feelings of Jones and Brown on returning, and finding their friend lying on his back upon the floor, snoring!
They lifted him up, and carried him off to bed.