Chapter 12

           Iwassittingonthebank,conjuringupthisscenetomyself,whenGeorgeremarkedthatwhenIwasquiterested,perhapsIwouldnotmindhelpingtowashup; and,thusrecalledfromthedaysofthegloriouspasttotheprosaicpresent,withallitsmiseryandsin,Isliddownintotheboatandcleanedoutthefrying-panwithastickofwoodandatuftofgrass,polishingitupfinallywithGeorge’swetshirt. 

           WewentovertoMagnaChartaIsland,andhadalookatthestonewhichstandsinthecottagethereandonwhichthegreatCharterissaidtohavebeensigned;though,astowhetheritreallywassignedthere,or,assomesay,ontheotherbankat"Runningmede,"Ideclinetocommitmyself. Asfarasmyownpersonalopiniongoes,however,Iaminclinedtogiveweighttothepopularislandtheory. Certainly,hadIbeenoneoftheBarons,atthetime,IshouldhavestronglyurgeduponmycomradestheadvisabilityofourgettingsuchaslipperycustomerasKingJohnontotheisland,wheretherewaslesschanceofsurprisesandtricks. 

           TherearetheruinsofanoldprioryinthegroundsofAnkerwykeHouse,whichisclosetoPicnicPoint,anditwasroundaboutthegroundsofthisoldpriorythatHenryVIII.issaidtohavewaitedforandmetAnneBoleyn. HealsousedtomeetheratHeverCastleinKent,andalsosomewherenearSt.Albans. ItmusthavebeendifficultforthepeopleofEnglandinthosedaystohavefoundaspotwherethesethoughtlessyoungfolkwerenotspooning.