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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
mysterious patient at The Two Robins Inn。
A fortnight after that conversation； she died。 In course of time；
Arthur married again。 Of late years； he has lived principally in London；
and I have seen little or nothing of him。
I have many years to pass over before I can approach to anything like
a conclusion of this fragmentary narrative。 And even when that later
period is reached； the little that I have to say will not occupy your
attention for more than a few minutes。 Between six and seven years ago；
the gentleman to whom I introduced you in this room； came to me； with
good professional recommendations； to fill the position of my assistant。
We met； not like strangers； but like friends … the only difference between
us being； that I was very much surprised to see him； and that he did not
appear to be at all surprised to see me。 If he was my son or my brother； I
believe he could not be fonder of me than he is； but he has never
volunteered any confidences since he has been here； on the subject of his
past life。 I saw something that was familiar to me in his face when we
first met； and yet it was also something that suggested the idea of change。
I had a notion once that my patient at the Inn might be a natural son of Mr。
Holliday's； I had another idea that he might also have been the man who
was engaged to Arthur's first wife； and I have a third idea； still clinging to
me； that Mr。 Lorn is the only man in England who could really enlighten
me； if he chose； on both those doubtful points。 His hair is not black； now；
and his eyes are dimmer than the piercing eyes that I remember； but； for
all that； he is very like the nameless medical student of my young days …
very like him。 And； sometimes； when I come home late at night； and find
him asleep； and wake him； he looks； in coming to； wonderfully like the
stranger at Doncaster； as he raised himself in the bed on that memorable
night！
The Doctor paused。 Mr。 Goodchild； who had been following every
word that fell from his lips up to this time； leaned forward eagerly to ask a
question。 Before he could say a word； the latch of the door was raised；
without any warning sound of footsteps in the passage outside。 A long；
white； bony hand appeared through the opening； gently pushing the door；
which was prevented from working freely on its hinges by a fold in the
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carpet under it。
'That hand！ Look at that hand； Doctor！' said Mr。 Goodchild； touching
him。
At the same moment； the Doctor looked at Mr。 Goodchild； and
whispered to him； significantly：
'Hush！ he has come back。'
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CHAPTER III
The Cumberland Doctor's mention of Doncaster Races； inspired Mr。
Francis Goodchild with the idea of going down to Doncaster to see the
races。 Doncaster being a good way off； and quite out of the way of the
Idle Apprentices （if anything could be out of their way； who had no way）；
it necessarily followed that Francis perceived Doncaster in the race…week
to be； of all possible idleness； the particular idleness that would
completely satisfy him。
Thomas； with an enforced idleness grafted on the natural and
voluntary power of his disposition； was not of this mind； objecting that a
man compelled to lie on his back on a floor； a sofa； a table； a line of chairs；
or anything he could get to lie upon； was not in racing condition； and that
he desired nothing better than to lie where he was； enjoying himself in
looking at the flies on the ceiling。 But； Francis Goodchild； who had been
walking round his companion in a circuit of twelve miles for two days；
and had begun to doubt whether it was reserved for him ever to be idle in
his life； not only overpowered this objection； but even converted Thomas
Idle to a scheme he formed （another idle inspiration）； of conveying the
said Thomas to the sea…coast； and putting his injured leg under a stream of
salt…water。
Plunging into this happy conception headforemost； Mr。 Goodchild
immediately referred to the county…map； and ardently discovered that the
most delicious piece of sea…coast to be found within the limits of England；
Ireland； Scotland； Wales； the Isle of Man； and the Channel Islands； all
summed up together； was Allonby on the coast of Cumberland。 There
was the coast of Scotland opposite to Allonby； said Mr。 Goodchild with
enthusiasm； there was a fine Scottish mountain on that Scottish coast；
there were Scottish lights to be seen shining across the glorious Channel；
and at Allonby itself there was every idle luxury （no doubt） that a
watering…place could offer to the heart of idle man。 Moreover； said Mr。
Goodchild； with his finger on the map； this exquisite retreat was
approached by a coach…road； from a railway…station called Aspatria … a
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name； in a manner； suggestive of the departed glories of Greece；
associated with one of the most engaging and most famous of Greek
women。 On this point； Mr。 Goodchild continued at intervals to breathe a
vein of classic fancy and eloquence exceedingly irksome to Mr。 Idle； until
it appeared that the honest English pronunciation of that Cumberland
country shortened Aspatria into 'Spatter。' After this supplementary
discovery； Mr。 Goodchild said no more about it。
By way of Spatter； the crippled Idle was carried； hoisted； pushed；
poked； and packed； into and out of carriages； into and out of beds； into and
out of tavern resting…places； until he was brought at length within sniff of
the sea。 And now； behold the apprentices gallantly riding into Allonby in
a one…horse fly； bent upon staying in that peaceful marine valley until the
turbulent Doncaster time shall come round upon the wheel； in its turn
among what are in sporting registers called the 'Fixtures' for the month。
'Do you see Allonby！' asked Thomas Idle。
'I don't see it yet；' said Francis； looking out of window。
'It must be there；' said Thomas Idle。
'I don't see it；' returned Francis。
'It must be there；' repeated Thomas Idle； fretfully。
'Lord bless me！' exclaimed Francis； drawing in his head； 'I suppose this
is it！'
'A watering…place；' retorted Thomas Idle； with the pardonable
sharpness of an invalid； 'can't be five gentlemen in straw hats； on a form
on one side of a door； and four ladies in hats and falls； on a form on
another side of a door； and three geese in a dirty little brook before them；
and a boy's legs hanging over a bridge （with a boy's body I suppose on the
other side of the parapet）； and a donkey running away。 What are you
talking about？'
'Allonby； gentlemen；' said the most comfortable of landladies as she
opened one door of the carriage； 'Allonby； gentlemen；' said the most
attentive of landlords； as he opened the other。
Thomas Idle yielded his arm to the ready Goodchild； and descended
from the vehicle。 Thomas； now just able to grope his way along； in a
doubled…up condition； with the aid of two thick sticks； was no bad
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embodiment of Commodore Trunnion； or of one of those many gallant
Admirals of the stage； who have all ample fortunes； gout； thick sticks；
tempers； wards； and nephews。 With this distinguished naval appearance
upon him； Thomas made a crab…like progress up a clean little bulk…headed
staircase； into a clean little bul