Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Shiplakeisaprettyvillage,butitcannotbeseenfromtheriver,beinguponthehill. TennysonwasmarriedinShiplakeChurch. 

           TheriveruptoSonningwindsinandoutthroughmanyislands,andisveryplacid,hushed,andlonely. Fewfolk,exceptattwilight,apairortwoofrusticlovers,walkalongitsbanks. ’ArryandLordFitznoodlehavebeenleftbehindatHenley,anddismal,dirtyReadingisnotyetreached. Itisapartoftheriverinwhichtodreamofbygonedays,andvanishedformsandfaces,andthingsthatmighthavebeen,butarenot,confoundthem. 

           WegotoutatSonning,andwentforawalkroundthevillage. Itisthemostfairy-likelittlenookonthewholeriver. Itismorelikeastagevillagethanonebuiltofbricksandmortar. Everyhouseissmotheredinroses,andnow,inearlyJune,theywereburstingforthincloudsofdaintysplendour. IfyoustopatSonning,putupatthe"Bull,"behindthechurch. Itisaveritablepictureofanoldcountryinn,withgreen,squarecourtyardinfront,where,onseatsbeneaththetrees,theoldmengroupofaneveningtodrinktheiraleandgossipovervillagepolitics; withlow,quaintroomsandlatticedwindows,andawkwardstairsandwindingpassages. 

           WeroamedaboutsweetSonningforanhourorso,andthen,itbeingtoolatetopushonpastReading,wedecidedtogobacktooneoftheShiplakeislands,andputupthereforthenight.