Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Theirtakingitinthewaytheydidirritatedme. ThereisnothingdoesirritatememorethanseeingotherpeoplesittingaboutdoingnothingwhenI’mworking. 

           Ilivedwithamanoncewhousedtomakememadthatway. Hewouldlollonthesofaandwatchmedoingthingsbythehourtogether,followingmeroundtheroomwithhiseyes,whereverIwent. Hesaiditdidhimrealgoodtolookonatme,messingabout. Hesaiditmadehimfeelthatlifewasnotanidledreamtobegapedandyawnedthrough,butanobletask,fullofdutyandsternwork. Hesaidheoftenwonderednowhowhecouldhavegoneonbeforehemetme,neverhavinganybodytolookatwhiletheyworked. 

           Now,I’mnotlikethat. Ican’tsitstillandseeanothermanslavingandworking. Iwanttogetupandsuperintend,andwalkroundwithmyhandsinmypockets,andtellhimwhattodo. Itismyenergeticnature. Ican’thelpit. 

           However,Ididnotsayanything,butstartedthepacking. ItseemedalongerjobthanIhadthoughtitwasgoingtobe;butIgotthebagfinishedatlast,andIsatonitandstrappedit. 

           "Ain’tyougoingtoputthebootsin?"saidHarris. 

           AndIlookedround,andfoundIhadforgottenthem. That’sjustlikeHarris. Hecouldn’thavesaidaworduntilI’dgotthebagshutandstrapped,ofcourse. AndGeorgelaughed—oneofthoseirritating,senseless,chuckle-headed,crack-jawedlaughsofhis. Theydomakemesowild. 

           Iopenedthebagandpackedthebootsin;andthen,justasIwasgoingtocloseit,ahorribleideaoccurredtome. HadIpackedmytooth-brush? Idon’tknowhowitis,butIneverdoknowwhetherI’vepackedmytooth-brush.