The friends reached Reading in a steam launch at eleven, a town famous for old places and the scene of many great events. The launch steam was the narrator’s, which he preferred because it was a delight being towed, instead of rowing themselves. However it was a bit off putting because other small boats kept getting in the way of the launch, making them ease or stop at intervals. The friends have a lovely ride from Maple Dushan to Streatley, and the launch dropped them at Grotto from where the narrator took the sculls. However it hadn’t been long when George suddenly gave a cry of terror his face absolutely blanched for he had noticed a dead body of a woman on the water! It was later the friends learnt that a tragedy had befallen on the woman, for she was scorched on love. Thereafter the men had lunch in streatly at a place called the Bull, much to Montmorency’s delight.