Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           GeorgeandI—Idon’tknowwhathadbecomeofHarris;hehadgoneoutandhadashave,earlyintheafternoon,andhadthencomebackandspentfullfortyminutesinpipeclayinghisshoes,wehadnotseenhimsince —GeorgeandI,therefore,andthedog,lefttoourselves,wentforawalktoWallingfordonthesecondevening,and,cominghome,wecalledinatalittleriver-sideinn,forarest,andotherthings. 

           Wewentintotheparlourandsatdown. Therewasanoldfellowthere,smokingalongclaypipe,andwenaturallybeganchatting. 

           Hetoldusthatithadbeenafinedaytoday,andwetoldhimthatithadbeenafinedayyesterday,andthenwealltoldeachotherthatwethoughtitwouldbeafinedaytomorrow;andGeorgesaidthecropsseemedtobecomingupnicely. 

           Afterthatitcameout,somehoworother,thatwewerestrangersintheneighbourhood,andthatweweregoingawaythenextmorning. 

           Thenapauseensuedintheconversation,duringwhichoureyeswanderedroundtheroom. Theyfinallyresteduponadustyoldglass-case,fixedveryhighupabovethechimney-piece,andcontainingatrout. Itratherfascinatedme,thattrout;itwassuchamonstrousfish. Infact,atfirstglance,Ithoughtitwasacod. 

           "Ah!"saidtheoldgentleman,followingthedirectionofmygaze,"finefellowthat,ain’the?" 

           "Quiteuncommon,"Imurmured;andGeorgeaskedtheoldmanhowmuchhethoughtitweighed. 

           "Eighteenpoundssixounces,"saidourfriend,risingandtakingdownhiscoat.