Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Idon’tknowhowmanyworldstheremaybeintheuniverse,butanyonewhohadbroughtmeaspoonfulofmustardatthatprecisemomentcouldhavehadthemall. IgrowrecklesslikethatwhenIwantathingandcan’tgetit. 

           Harrissaidhewouldhavegivenworldsformustardtoo. Itwouldhavebeenagoodthingforanybodywhohadcomeuptothatspotwithacanofmustard,then:hewouldhavebeensetupinworldsfortherestofhislife. 

           Butthere! IdaresaybothHarrisandIwouldhavetriedtobackoutofthebargainafterwehadgotthemustard. Onemakestheseextravagantoffersinmomentsofexcitement,but,ofcourse,whenonecomestothinkofit,oneseeshowabsurdlyoutofproportiontheyarewiththevalueoftherequiredarticle. Iheardaman,goingupamountaininSwitzerland,oncesayhewouldgiveworldsforaglassofbeer,and,whenhecametoalittleshantywheretheykeptit,hekickedupamostfearfulrowbecausetheychargedhimfivefrancsforabottleofBass. Hesaiditwasascandalousimposition,andhewrotetotheTimesaboutit. 

           Itcastagloomovertheboat,therebeingnomustard. Weateourbeefinsilence. Existenceseemedhollowanduninteresting. Wethoughtofthehappydaysofchildhood,andsighed. Webrightenedupabit,however,overtheapple-tart,and,whenGeorgedrewoutatinofpine-applefromthebottomofthehamper,androlleditintothemiddleoftheboat,wefeltthatlifewasworthlivingafterall. 

           Weareveryfondofpine-apple,allthreeofus.