Трое в лодке не считая собаки
Chapter 14
Theevidenceagainsthimwasveryclear,andhewasboundovertokeepthepeaceforsixmonths.
Heseemedtoloseheartinthebusinessafterthat. Hedidmakeoneortwofeebleeffortstotakeuptheworkagainwhenthesixmonthshadelapsed,buttherewasalwaysthesamecoldness—thesamewantofsympathyonthepartoftheworldtofightagainst; and,afterawhile,hedespairedaltogether,andadvertisedtheinstrumentforsaleatagreatsacrifice—"ownerhavingnofurtheruseforsame"—andtooktolearningcardtricksinstead.
Itmustbedishearteningworklearningamusicalinstrument. YouwouldthinkthatSociety,foritsownsake,woulddoallitcouldtoassistamantoacquiretheartofplayingamusicalinstrument. Butitdoesn’t!
Iknewayoungfellowonce,whowasstudyingtoplaythebagpipes,andyouwouldbesurprisedattheamountofoppositionhehadtocontendwith. Why,notevenfromthemembersofhisownfamilydidhereceivewhatyoucouldcallactiveencouragement. Hisfatherwasdeadagainstthebusinessfromthebeginning,andspokequiteunfeelinglyonthesubject.
Myfriendusedtogetupearlyinthemorningtopractise,buthehadtogivethatplanup,becauseofhissister. Shewassomewhatreligiouslyinclined,andshesaiditseemedsuchanawfulthingtobeginthedaylikethat.
Sohesatupatnightinstead,andplayedafterthefamilyhadgonetobed,butthatdidnotdo,asitgotthehousesuchabadname.