"Ay sure," replied the woman. "They told me as three young gemmen had come up along in boat, and I says to myself 'tis tea, as like as not. Sit 'ee down at thikky table, and I'll bring it out to 'ee."
"We're pretty hungry," said Armstrong. "What can you give us?"
"Why, there 'tis--I've nothing but eggs and bacon."
"Glorious!" said Pratt. "Two eggs apiece, and bacon to match."
"Ay, I know what young gemmen's appetite be," said Mrs. Rogers, smiling as she bustled away.
They sat down at a table placed outside the window. Within they saw Rogers, the landlord, energetically pulling ale for his customers. He had laid aside his snuff-coloured wig, revealing a scalp perfectly bald.
While they were awaiting their meal, a girl, dressed in white, riding a bicycle, came along the road on the far side of the river, and, dismounting at the landing-stage, rang her bell continuously as a summons to the ferryman. An old weather-beaten man emerged from the back premises of the inn, touched his hat, hobbled down to his boat, and slowly poled it across. The girl wheeled her bicycle on to it, chatted to the old man while he recrossed the river, paid him with a silver coin and smiling thanks, and, having remounted, sped on towards the village.
"Why didn't I bring up my banjo?" said Pratt, dolefully. "Of course, I can sing without accompaniment.
"There's no sunbeam as bright as your smile,
There's no gold like the sheen of your hair----
but you do want the one-two-tum, one-two-tum to get the full effect, don't you, eh?"