Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           "Notmuchfearofthatwhilethisstew’son,"hegrunted,ashepulledbacktotheisland. 

           Henleywasgettingreadyfortheregatta,andwasfullofbustle. Wemetagoodishnumberofmenweknewaboutthetown,andintheirpleasantcompanythetimeslippedbysomewhatquickly; sothatitwasnearlyeleveno’clockbeforewesetoffonourfour-milewalkhome—aswehadlearnedtocallourlittlecraftbythistime. 

           Itwasadismalnight,coldish,withathinrainfalling;andaswetrudgedthroughthedark,silentfields,talkinglowtoeachother,andwonderingifweweregoingrightornot,wethoughtofthecosyboat,withthebrightlightstreamingthroughthetight-drawncanvas; ofHarrisandMontmorency,andthewhisky,andwishedthatwewerethere. 

           Weconjuredupthepictureofourselvesinside,tiredandalittlehungry;ofthegloomyriverandtheshapelesstrees;and,likeagiantglow-wormunderneaththem,ourdearoldboat,sosnugandwarmandcheerful. Wecouldseeourselvesatsupperthere,peckingawayatcoldmeat,andpassingeachotherchunksofbread;wecouldhearthecheeryclatterofourknives,thelaughingvoices,fillingallthespace,andoverflowingthroughtheopeningoutintothenight. Andwehurriedontorealisethevision. 

           Westruckthetow-pathatlength,andthatmadeushappy;becausepriortothiswehadnotbeensurewhetherwewerewalkingtowardstheriverorawayfromit,andwhenyouaretiredandwanttogotobeduncertaintieslikethatworryyou.