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The wanton wind had been so busily kissing them all the morning that they were quite dry； so I was able to find room for them in my knapsack without danger to the other contents； and； with a hasty good…day to their recent possessor； I set off at full speed to find a secure nook where I could throw myself down on the grass； and let loose the absurd laughter that was dangerously bottled up within me； but even before I do that it behoves me if possible to vindicate my sanity to the reader。
CHAPTER XVI
CLEARS UP MY MYSTERIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF THE LAST CHAPTER
What a sane man should be doing carrying about with him a woman's petticoat and silk stockings； may well be a puzzle to the most intelligent reader。
Whim； sir； whim！ and few human actions admit of more satisfactory solution。 Like Shylock； I'll say 〃It is my humour。〃 But no！ I'll be more explanatory。 This madcap quest of mine； was it not understood between us from the beginning to be a fantastic whim； a poetical wild…goose chase； conceived entirely as an excuse for being some time in each other's company？ To be whimsical； therefore； in pursuit of a whim； fanciful in the chase of a fancy； is surely but to maintain the spirit of the game。 Now； for the purpose； therefore； of a romance that makes no pretence to reasonableness； I had very good reasons for buying that petticoat； which （the reasons； not the petticoat） I will now lay before you。
I have been conscious all the way along through this pilgrimage of its inevitable vagueness of direction； of my need of something definite； some place； some name； anything at all； however slight； which I might associate； if only for a time； with the object of my quest； a definite something to seek； a definite goal for my feet。
Now； when I saw that mysterious petticoat； and realised that its wearer would probably be pretty and young and generally charming； and that probably her name was somewhere on the waistband； the spirit of whim rejoiced within me。 〃Why not；〃 it said； 〃buy the petticoat； find out the name of its owner； and； instead of seeking a vague Golden Girl； make up your mind doggedly to find and marry her； or； failing that； carry the petticoat with you； as a sort of Cinderella's slipper； try it on any girl you happen to fancy； and marry her it exactly fits？〃
Now； I confess； that seemed to me quite a pretty idea； and I hope the reader will think so too。 If not； I'm afraid I can offer him no better explanation； and in fact I am all impatience to open my knapsack； and inform myself of the name of her to the discovery of whom my wanderings are henceforth to be devoted。
CHAPTER XVII
THE NAME UPON THE PETTICOAT
So imagine me seated in a grassy corner； with my knapsack open on the ground and my petticoat and silk stockings spread out in front of me；an odd picture； to be sure； for any passer by to come upon。 I suppose I could have passed for a pedlar； but undoubtedly it would have been very embarrassing。 However； as it happened； I remained undisturbed； and was able to examine my purchases at leisure。 I had never seen a petticoat so near before；at all events I had never given one such close attention。 What delicious dainty things they are！ How essentially womanlyas I hope no one would call a pair of trousers essentially manly。
How pretty it looked spread out on the grass in front of me！ How soft！ how wondrously dainty the finish of every little seam！ And the lace！ It almost tempts one to change one's sex to wear such things。 There was a time indeed； and not so long ago； when brave men wore garments no less dainty。
Rupert's Cavaliers were every bit as particular about their lace collars and frills as the lady whose pretty limbs once warmed this cambric。
But where is the name？ Ah！ here it is！ What sweet writing！ 〃Sylvia Joy； No。 6。〃
Sylvia Joy！ What a perfectly enchanting name！ and as I repeated it enthusiastically； it seemed to have a certain familiarity for my ear；as though it were the name of some famous beauty or some popular actress；yet the exact association eluded me； and obviously it was better it should remain a name of mystery。 Sylvia Joy！ Who could have hoped for such a pretty name！ Indeed； to tell the truth； I had dreaded to find a 〃Mary Jones〃 or an 〃Ann Williams〃 but Sylvia Joy！ The name was a romance in itself。 I already felt myself falling in love with its unseen owner。 With such a petticoat and such a name； Sylvia herself could not be otherwise than delightful too。 Already； you see； I was calling her by her Christian name！ And the more I thought of her； the stronger grew the conviction which has no doubt already forced itself upon the romantic readerthat we were born for each other。
But who is Sylvia； who is she？ and likewise where is Sylvia； where is she？ Obviously they were questions not to be answered off…hand。 Was not my futureat all events my immediate futureto be spent in answering them？
Indeed； curiously enough； my recent haste to have them answered had suddenly died down。 A sort of matrimonial security possessed me。 I felt as I imagine a husband may feel on a solitary holidayif there are husbands unnatural enough to go holidaying without their wivespleasantly conscious of a home tucked somewhere beneath the distant sunset； yet in no precipitate hurry to return there before the appointed day。
In fact； a chill tremor went through me as I realised that； to all intent； I was at length respectably settled down； with quite a considerable retrospect of happy married life。 To come to a decision is always to bring something to an end。 And； with something of a pang； resolutely stifled； I realised for a moment the true blessedness of the single state I was so soon to leave behind。 At all events； a little golden fragment of bachelorhood remained。 There was yet a fertile strip of time wherein to sow my last handful of the wild oats of youth。 So festina lente； my destined Sylvia； festina lente！
CHAPTER XVIII
IN WHICH THE NAME OF A GREAT POET IS CRIED OUT IN A SOLITARY PLACE
As I once more shouldered my pack and went my way； the character of the country side began to change； and； from a semi… pastoral heathiness and furziness； took on a wildness of aspect； which if indeed melodramatic was melodrama carried to the point of genius。
It was a scene for which the nineteenth century has no worthy use。 It finds ignoble occupation as a gaping…ground for the vacuous tourist；somewhat as Heine might have imagined Pan carrying the gentleman's luggage from the coach to the hotel。 It suffers teetotal picnic…parties to encamp amid its savage hollows； and it humbly allows itself to be painted by the worst artists。 Like a lion in a menagerie； it is a survival of the extinct chaos entrapped and exhibited amid the smug parks and well…rolled downs of England。
I came upon it by a winding ledge of road； which clung to the bare side of the hill like the battlements of some huge castle。 Some two hundred feet below； a brawling upland stream stood for the moat； and for the enemy there was on the opposite side of the valley a great green company of trees； settled like a cloud slope upon slope； making all haste to cross the river and ascend the heights