Friends had, indeed, signified their purpose to meet me at the station for last farewells, and had, furthermore, remarked upon the very slight show of enthusiasm with which I heard the news.
The fact is, I do not like to be seen off.

Least of all, do I like to be seen off by those who are dear to me.

If the thing must be done, I prefer it to be done by strangers--committees from chambers of commerce and the like, who have no interest in me save the hope that I will live to write agreeably of their city--of the civic center, the fertilizer works, and the charming new abattoir.

Seeing me off for the most practical of reasons, such gentlemen are invariably efficient.

They provide an equipage, and there have even been times when, in the final hurried moments, they have helped me to jam the last things into my trunks and bags.