Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           TheneighbourhoodoftheupperThamesisrichinRomanrelics,andmysurmiseseemedtomeaveryprobableone; butourseriousyoungman,whoisabitofageologist,pooh-poohedmyRomanrelictheory,andsaiditwascleartothemeanestintellect(inwhichcategoryheseemedtobegrievedthathecouldnotconscientiouslyincludemine)thatthethingtheboyhadfoundwasthefossilofawhale; andhepointedouttousvariousevidencesprovingthatitmusthavebelongedtothepreglacialperiod. 

           Tosettlethedispute,weappealedtotheboy. Wetoldhimnottobeafraid,buttospeaktheplaintruth: WasitthefossilofapreAdamitewhale,orwasitanearlyRomancoffin? 

           TheboysaiditwasThePrideoftheThames. 

           Wethoughtthisaveryhumorousansweronthepartoftheboyatfirst,andsomebodygavehimtwopenceasarewardforhisreadywit;butwhenhepersistedinkeepingupthejoke,aswethought,toolong,wegotvexedwithhim. 

           "Come,come,mylad!"saidourcaptainsharply,"don’tletushaveanynonsense. Youtakeyourmother’swashing-tubhomeagain,andbringusaboat." 

           Theboat-builderhimselfcameupthen,andassuredus,onhisword,asapracticalman,thatthethingreallywasaboat—was,infact,theboat,the"doublescullingskiff"selectedtotakeusonourtripdowntheriver. 

           Wegrumbledagooddeal. Wethoughthemight,atleast,havehaditwhitewashedortarred—hadsomethingdonetoittodistinguishitfromabitofawreck; buthecouldnotseeanyfaultinit.