Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

ALL SORTS OF CARAVANNERS 145throw ourselves at once into an attitude. Andit must be said that in the earnest pursuit of hisart he takes a ghoulish pleasure in our misfortunes.If he can catch us stuck in a waterway or in anyother predicament he gloats upon the spectaclethrough his lens.The Journalist's Wife is a born caravanner.All the necessary household arts are rooted inher ;she has great gifts in dealing with utensils.It was she who invented the method of cleaningthe milk bottle till it glitters with sand ;andshe has contributed several new items to ourarsenalthe most notable among them, perhaps,the asbestos platter, by the use of which a potcan be kept equably at the boil. She is deft inmixing mustard, and has real insight into thequestion of straining coffee. More than once Ihave thought (though Imay have been wrong)that I have caught her casting envious eyes intomy kitchen.The Journalist on the other hand is a purepassenger, and has the three virtues of thepassenger (i) he is always happy, (2) he does notleave his belongings lying about the van, and(3) he is never in the way.About two miles above Grantown we foundquarters for the night on a small holding, shut