My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.
My tired brain had recuperated.

I had no moral scruples in the matter.
I was not ashamed nor sorry because of that first day's orgy at Benicia, and I thought no more about it, returning gladly to my books and studies.
Long years were to pass ere I looked back upon that day and realised its significance.