But certainly the people of those days must have been a curiously lazy set.

We are not either fidgety or quarrelsome now, but if any one tried such a piece of folly on us, we should use the said waterways, whoever gaidsaid us: surely that would be simple enough.

However, I remember other cases of this stupidity: when I was on the Rhine two years ago, I remember they showed us ruins of old castles, which, according to what we heard, must have been made for pretty much the same purpose as the railways were.

But I am interrupting your history of the river: pray go on." "It is both short and stupid enough," said I.

"The river having lost its practical or commercial value--that is, being of no use to make money of--" She nodded.