Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

'44 WOTTON EEINFEEDrude piers of wattle-work, fronted on the other side byseveral corresponding piers which extended throughsand and silt and enabled the ferrymen to ply theirtrade at all seasons of the tide, their signal was soonanswered, and two gnarled weather-beaten rowers,with a helmsman and a huge shapeless boat, had in afew minutes landed man and horse on the farthershore. Fronting and close by stood a rather gay-lookingmansion, which it seemed was an inn and bathingestablishment, and where our friends proposed continuingfor the night. During their short voyageWotton had remarked that the helmsman eyed himsomewhat too curiously ; he was still further struck,indeed offended, when the same personage, whoappeared likewise to be an under-waiter, continued toglance at him, nay, seemed also to have awakened thecuriosity of his official superior ; for ever and anonas the two were covering with much bustle a frugalenough table, they kept privily casting looks on ourhero, who at length determined to end their survey.*My friends,' said he, 'is there anything especiallyremarkable in my appearance that you so gaze at me ?Have I ever had the honour of your acquaintance forgood or bad ; or are you apprehensive I may do yourestablishment here an ill turn ? ''Thousand pardons ! ' said they of the apron,ducking very low. 'It is nothing, sir,' added thehead waiter*; but you are so very like a picture wehave here. You will excuse our freedom, sir !