Трое в лодке не считая собаки
Chapter 15
Afterthat,havingacquiredatasteforthewater,Ididagooddealofraftinginvarioussuburbanbrickfields—anexerciseprovidingmoreinterestandexcitementthanmightbeimagined,especiallywhenyouareinthemiddleofthepondandtheproprietorofthematerialsofwhichtheraftisconstructedsuddenlyappearsonthebank,withabigstickinhishand.
Yourfirstsensationonseeingthisgentlemanisthat,somehoworother,youdon’tfeelequaltocompanyandconversation,andthat,ifyoucoulddosowithoutappearingrude,youwouldratheravoidmeetinghim; andyourobjectis,therefore,togetoffontheoppositesideofthepondtowhichheis,andtogohomequietlyandquickly,pretendingnottoseehim. He,onthecontraryisyearningtotakeyoubythehand,andtalktoyou.
Itappearsthatheknowsyourfather,andisintimatelyacquaintedwithyourself,butthisdoesnotdrawyoutowardshim. Hesayshe’llteachyoutotakehisboardsandmakearaftofthem; but,seeingthatyouknowhowtodothisprettywellalready,theoffer,thoughdoubtlesskindlymeant,seemsasuperfluousoneonhispart,andyouarereluctanttoputhimtoanytroublebyacceptingit.
Hisanxietytomeetyou,however,isproofagainstallyourcoolness,andtheenergeticmannerinwhichhedodgesupanddownthepondsoastobeonthespottogreetyouwhenyoulandisreallyquiteflattering.