Explore "Catching the Early Boat" by Thomas Anstey Guthrie on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
_In Bed; At the Highland Hotel, Oban._
What an extraordinary thing is the mechanism of the human mind! Went to sleep last night impressed with vital importance of waking at six, to catch early steamer to Gairloch. And here I am -- broad awake -- at exactly 5.55! Is it automatic action, or what? Like setting clockwork for explosive machine. When the time comes, I blow up -- I mean, _get_ up. Think out this simile -- rather a good one. Need not have been so particular in telling Boots to call me, after all. Shall I get up _before_ he comes? He'll be rather surprised when he knocks at the door, and hears me singing inside like a lark. But, on reflection, isn't it rather _petty_ to wish to astonish an hotel Boots? And why on earth should I get up myself, when I've tipped another fellow to get me up? But suppose he forgets to call me. I've no right, as yet, to _assume_ that he will. To get up now would argue want of confidence in him -- might hurt his feelings. I will give him another five minutes, poor fellow.