Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Ididgettosleepforafewhours,andthensomepartoftheboatwhichseemedtohavegrownupinthenight—foritcertainlywasnottherewhenwestarted,andithaddisappearedbythemorning—keptdiggingintomyspine. Isleptthroughitforawhile,dreamingthatIhadswallowedasovereign,andthattheywerecuttingaholeinmybackwithagimlet,soastotryandgetitout. Ithoughtitveryunkindofthem,andItoldthemIwouldowethemthemoney,andtheyshouldhaveitattheendofthemonth. Buttheywouldnothearofthat,andsaiditwouldbemuchbetteriftheyhaditthen,becauseotherwisetheinterestwouldaccumulateso. Igotquitecrosswiththemafterabit,andtoldthemwhatIthoughtofthem,andthentheygavethegimletsuchanexcruciatingwrenchthatIwokeup. 

           Theboatseemedstuffy,andmyheadached; soIthoughtIwouldstepoutintothecoolnight-air. IslippedonwhatclothesIcouldfindabout—someofmyown,andsomeofGeorge’sandHarris’s—andcreptunderthecanvasontothebank. 

           Itwasagloriousnight. Themoonhadsunk,andleftthequietearthalonewiththestars. Itseemedasif,inthesilenceandthehush,whileweherchildrenslept,theyweretalkingwithher,theirsister—conversingofmightymysteriesinvoicestoovastanddeepforchildishhumanearstocatchthesound. 

           Theyaweus,thesestrangestars,socold,soclear.