Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Itseemeddifficulttobelievethatthepotato-scrapingsinwhichHarrisandIstood,halfsmothered,couldhavecomeofffourpotatoes. Itshowsyouwhatcanbedonewitheconomyandcare. 

           GeorgesaiditwasabsurdtohaveonlyfourpotatoesinanIrishstew,sowewashedhalf-a-dozenorsomore,andputtheminwithoutpeeling. Wealsoputinacabbageandabouthalfapeckofpeas. Georgestirreditallup,andthenhesaidthatthereseemedtobealotofroomtospare,soweoverhauledboththehampers,andpickedoutalltheoddsandendsandtheremnants,andaddedthemtothestew. Therewerehalfaporkpieandabitofcoldboiledbaconleft,andweputthemin. ThenGeorgefoundhalfatinofpottedsalmon,andheemptiedthatintothepot. 

           HesaidthatwastheadvantageofIrishstew:yougotridofsuchalotofthings. Ifishedoutacoupleofeggsthathadgotcracked,andputthosein. Georgesaidtheywouldthickenthegravy. 

           Iforgettheotheringredients,butIknownothingwaswasted; andIrememberthat,towardstheend,Montmorency,whohadevincedgreatinterestintheproceedingsthroughout,strolledawaywithanearnestandthoughtfulair,reappearing,afewminutesafterwards,withadeadwater-ratinhismouth,whichheevidentlywishedtopresentashiscontributiontothedinner;whetherinasarcasticspirit,orwithagenuinedesiretoassist,Icannotsay. 

           Wehadadiscussionastowhethertheratshouldgoinornot.