Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Thelargeandspacioushouses,withtheiroriel,latticedwindows,theirhugefireplaces,andtheirgabledroofs,breatheofthedaysofhoseanddoublet,ofpearl-embroideredstomachers,andcomplicatedoaths. Theywereupraisedinthedays"whenmenknewhowtobuild. "Thehardredbrickshaveonlygrownmorefirmlysetwithtime,andtheiroakstairsdonotcreakandgruntwhenyoutrytogodownthemquietly. 

           SpeakingofoakstaircasesremindsmethatthereisamagnificentcarvedoakstaircaseinoneofthehousesinKingston. Itisashopnow,inthemarket-place,butitwasevidentlyoncethemansionofsomegreatpersonage. Afriendofmine,wholivesatKingston,wentintheretobuyahatoneday,and,inathoughtlessmoment,puthishandinhispocketandpaidforitthenandthere. 

           Theshopman(heknowsmyfriend)wasnaturallyalittlestaggeredatfirst;but,quicklyrecoveringhimself,andfeelingthatsomethingoughttobedonetoencouragethissortofthing,askedourheroifhewouldliketoseesomefineoldcarvedoak. Myfriendsaidhewould,andtheshopman,thereupon,tookhimthroughtheshop,andupthestaircaseofthehouse. Thebalusterswereasuperbpieceofworkmanship,andthewallallthewayupwasoak-panelled,withcarvingthatwouldhavedonecredittoapalace. 

           Fromthestairs,theywentintothedrawing-room,whichwasalarge,brightroom,decoratedwithasomewhatstartlingthoughcheerfulpaperofablueground. Therewasnothing,however,remarkableabouttheapartment,andmyfriendwonderedwhyhehadbeenbroughtthere. Theproprietorwentuptothepaper,andtappedit. Itgaveforthawoodensound. 

           "Oak,"heexplained."Allcarvedoak,rightuptotheceiling,justthesameasyousawonthestaircase."