Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Thesweetsoundsdrewnearer,andsoontheboatfromwhichtheywereworkedlayalongsideus. 

           Itcontainedapartyofprovincial’Arrysand’Arriets,outforamoonlightsail. (Therewasnotanymoon,butthatwasnottheirfault.) Ineversawmoreattractive,lovablepeopleinallmylife. Ihailedthem,andaskediftheycouldtellmethewaytoWallingfordlock;andIexplainedthatIhadbeenlookingforitforthelasttwohours. 

           "Wallingfordlock!"theyanswered. "Lor’loveyou,sir,that’sbeendoneawaywithforoverayear. Thereain’tnoWallingfordlocknow,sir. You’reclosetoCleevenow. Blowmetightif’ereain’tagentlemanbeenlookingforWallingfordlock,Bill!" 

           Ihadneverthoughtofthat. Iwantedtofalluponalltheirnecksandblessthem; butthestreamwasrunningtoostrongjusttheretoallowofthis,soIhadtocontentmyselfwithmerecold-soundingwordsofgratitude. 

           Wethankedthemoverandoveragain,andwesaiditwasalovelynight,andwewishedthemapleasanttrip,and,Ithink,Iinvitedthemalltocomeandspendaweekwithme,andmycousinsaidhermotherwouldbesopleasedtoseethem. Andwesangthesoldiers’chorusoutofFaust,andgothomeintimeforsupper,afterall.