Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Inanothermomentweshouldbeover. Quickasthought,weeachseizedanoar,andavigorousblowagainstthesideofthelockwiththebutt-endsreleasedtheboat,andsentussprawlingonourbacks. 

           Wedidnotcomeoutwellinthatphotograph,GeorgeandI. Ofcourse,aswastobeexpected,ourluckordainedit,thatthemanshouldsethiswretchedmachineinmotionattheprecisemomentthatwewerebothlyingonourbackswithawildexpressionof"WhereamI?andwhatisit?"onourfaces,andourfourfeetwavingmadlyintheair. 

           Ourfeetwereundoubtedlytheleadingarticleinthatphotograph. Indeed,verylittleelsewastobeseen. Theyfilleduptheforegroundentirely. Behindthem,youcaughtglimpsesoftheotherboats,andbitsofthesurroundingscenery;buteverythingandeverybodyelseinthelocklookedsoutterlyinsignificantandpaltrycomparedwithourfeet,thatalltheotherpeoplefeltquiteashamedofthemselves,andrefusedtosubscribetothepicture. 

           Theownerofonesteamlaunch,whohadbespokesixcopies,rescindedtheorderonseeingthenegative. Hesaidhewouldtakethemifanybodycouldshowhimhislaunch,butnobodycould. ItwassomewherebehindGeorge’srightfoot. 

           Therewasagooddealofunpleasantnessoverthebusiness. Thephotographerthoughtweoughttotakeadozencopieseach,seeingthatthephotowasaboutnine-tenthsus,butwedeclined. Wesaidwehadnoobjectiontobeingphoto’dfull-length,butwepreferredbeingtakentherightwayup.