The Holiday Round

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The Holiday Round

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Title: The Holiday Round
Author: A. A. Milne

Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5675] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 7, 2002]
Edition: 10
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
HOLIDAY ROUND ***

Produced by Charles Aldarondo

THE HOLIDAY ROUND
BY
A. A. MILNE
AUTHOR OF "THE DAYS' PLAY"
LONDON
1912

CONTENTS

HOLIDAY TIME
THE HOUSE-WARMING
AT PLAY

TWO STORIES
AN ODD LOT
LITTLE PLAYS FOR AMATEURS
A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS
STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL LIVES
A FEW FRIENDS
EPILOGUE

HOLIDAY TIME
I.--THE ORDEAL BY WATER

"We will now bathe," said a voice at the back of my neck.
I gave a grunt and went on with my dream. It was a jolly dream, and
nobody got up early in it.
"We will now bathe," repeated Archie.
"Go away," I said distinctly.
Archie sat down on my knees and put his damp towel on my face.
"When my wife and I took this commodious residence for six weeks,"
he said, "and engaged the sea at great expense to come up to its doors
twice a day, it was on the distinct understanding that our guests should
plunge into it punctually at seven o'clock every morning."
"Don't be silly, it's about three now. And I wish you'd get off my
knees."

"It's a quarter-past seven."
"Then there you are, we've missed it. Well, we must see what we can
do for you to-morrow. Good-night."
Archie pulled all the clothes off me and walked with them to the
window.
"Jove, what a day!" he said. "And can't you smell the sea?"
"I can. Let that suffice. I say, what's happened to my blanket? I must
have swallowed it in my sleep."
"Where's his sponge?" I heard him murmuring to himself as he came
away from the window.
"No, no, I'm up," I shouted, and I sprang out of bed and put on a shirt
and a pair of trousers with great speed. "Where do I take these off
again?" I asked. "I seem to be giving myself a lot of trouble."
"There is a tent."
"Won't the ladies want it? Because, if so, I can easily have my bathe
later on."
"The ladies think it's rather too rough to-day."
"Perhaps they're right," I said hopefully. "A woman's instinct--No, I'm
NOT a coward."
It wasn't so bad outside--sun and wind and a blue-and-white sky and
plenty of movement on the sea.
"Just the day for a swim," said Archie cheerily, as he led the way down
to the beach.
"I've nothing against the day; it's the hour I object to. The Lancet says
you mustn't bathe within an hour of a heavy meal. Well, I'm going to
have a very heavy meal within about twenty minutes. That isn't right,

you know."
By the time I was ready the wind had got much colder. I looked out of
the tent and shivered.
"Isn't it jolly and fresh?" said Archie, determined to be helpful. "There
are points about the early morning, after all."
"There are plenty of points about this morning. Where do they get all
the sharp stones from? Look at that one there--he's simply waiting for
me."
"You ought to have bought some bathing shoes. I got this pair in the
village."
"Why didn't you tell me so last night?"
"It was too late last night."
"Well, it's much too early this morning. If you were a gentleman you'd
lend me one of yours, and we'd hop down together."
Archie being no gentleman, he walked and I hobbled to the edge, and
there we sat down while he took off his shoes.
"I