"They would never stand our going to Switzerland by ourselves," I objected. "You know what happened last time. It must be some place where no delicately nurtured woman or child could possibly live; a country of bad hotels and comfortless travelling; where we shall have to rough it, to work hard, to starve perhaps-"

"Easy!" interrupted George, "easy, there! Don't forget I'm coming with you."

"I have it!" exclaimed Harris; "a bicycle tour!"

George looked doubtful.

"There's a lot of uphill about a bicycle tour," said he, "and the wind is against you."

"So there is downhill, and the wind behind you," said Harris.

"I've never noticed it," said George.

"You won't think of anything better than a bicycle tour," persisted Harris.

I was inclined to agree with him.

"And I'll tell you where," continued he; "through the Black Forest."

"Why, that's ALL uphill," said George.

"Not all," retorted Harris; "say two-thirds. And there's one thing you've forgotten."

He looked round cautiously, and sunk his voice to a whisper.

"There are little railways going up those hills, little cogwheel things that-"

The door opened, and Mrs. Harris appeared. She said that Ethelbertha was putting on her bonnet, and that Muriel, after waiting, had given "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party" without us.

"Club, to-morrow, at four," whispered Harris to me, as he rose, and I passed it on to George as we went upstairs.

Chapter II

A delicate business-What Ethelbertha might have said-What she did say-What Mrs. Harris said-What we told George-We will start on Wednesday-George suggests the possibility of improving our minds— Harris and I are doubtful-Which man on a tandem does the most work?-The opinion of the man in front-Views of the man behind— How Harris lost his wife-The luggage question-The wisdom of my late Uncle Podger-Beginning of story about a man who had a bag.