WHIST-PLAYERS 173

RELATIONS 182

INVALID LITERATURE 192

WET HOLIDAYS 201

TRAVELLING COMPANIONS 211




_THE MIDWAY INN_.

'The hidden but the common thought of all.'


The thoughts I am about to set down are not _my_ thoughts, for, as my
friends say, I have given up the practice of thinking, or it may be,
as my enemies say, I never had it. They are the thoughts of an
acquaintance who thinks for me. I call him an acquaintance, though I
pass as much of my time with him as with my nearest and dearest;
perhaps at the club, perhaps at the office, perhaps in metaphysical
discussion, perhaps at billiards--what does it matter? Thousands of
men in town have such acquaintances, in whose company they spend, by
necessity or custom, half the sum of their lives. It is not rational,
doubtless; but then 'Consider, sir,' said the great talking
philosopher, 'should we become purely rational, how our friendships