Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Ineverpassitwithoutfeelingbetterforthesightofit. Suchamellow,bright,sweetoldwall; whatacharmingpictureitwouldmake,withthelichencreepinghere,andthemossgrowingthere,ashyyoungvinepeepingoverthetopatthisspot,toseewhatisgoingonuponthebusyriver,andthesoberoldivyclusteringalittlefartherdown! Therearefiftyshadesandtintsandhuesineverytenyardsofthatoldwall. IfIcouldonlydraw,andknewhowtopaint,Icouldmakealovelysketchofthatoldwall,I’msure. I’veoftenthoughtIshouldliketoliveatHamptonCourt. Itlookssopeacefulandsoquiet,anditissuchadearoldplacetorambleroundintheearlymorningbeforemanypeopleareabout. 

           But,there,Idon’tsupposeIshouldreallycareforitwhenitcametoactualpractice. Itwouldbesoghastlydullanddepressingintheevening,whenyourlampcastuncannyshadowsonthepanelledwalls,andtheechoofdistantfeetrangthroughthecoldstonecorridors,andnowdrewnearer,andnowdiedaway,andallwasdeath-likesilence,savethebeatingofone’sownheart. 

           Wearecreaturesofthesun,wemenandwomen. Welovelightandlife. Thatiswhywecrowdintothetownsandcities,andthecountrygrowsmoreandmoredesertedeveryyear. Inthesunlight—inthedaytime,whenNatureisaliveandbusyallaroundus,weliketheopenhill-sidesandthedeepwoodswellenough: butinthenight,whenourMotherEarthhasgonetosleep,andleftuswaking,oh!theworldseemssolonesome,andwegetfrightened,likechildreninasilenthouse. Thenwesitandsob,andlongforthegas-litstreets,andthesoundofhumanvoices,andtheansweringthrobofhumanlife. Wefeelsohelplessandsolittleinthegreatstillness,whenthedarktreesrustleinthenight-wind. Therearesomanyghostsabout,andtheirsilentsighsmakeusfeelsosad. Letusgathertogetherinthegreatcities,andlighthugebonfiresofamilliongas-jets,andshoutandsingtogether,andfeelbrave.