"Well, where shall we go to-day, darling?" I asked my little wife as I slipped one hand round her waist and took the cigar from between my lips with the other; "shall we ascend grim Pilatus, or cog-wheel it up the Rigi and have lunch at the little hotel at the top, or shall we idle away the day in a boat on the lake? What say you, little one?"
An old German passing below with his hand behind his back, feeling his way gingerly along on gouty feet with the aid of a stick, looked up, smiled, and shook his head at us. He took us for a newly married couple!
When the laughter provoked by this little interlude had subsided, I once more put the question to Dolores.
"Where shall we go to-day?"
"Darling," she answered, "I'm entirely for the lazy day on the lake. I want to be idle."
So the lazy day on the lake it was.
A small hamper containing a cold chicken, some ham, a salad, with other accessories for lunch, and the added luxury of a gipsy tea-set, having been duly put into a boat, we followed it, and taking our seats, were met with the following query of the boatman, who sat looking at us, his two oars poised ready for work—
"Where will you go?"
We exchanged a significant glance, then gave voice simultaneously to the thought which was in both our minds.
"Anywhere."