Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Thegirlsdidnotcomplain,buttheyhuddledupclosetogether,andsettheirlipsfirm,andeverytimeadroptouchedthem,theyvisiblyshrankandshuddered. Itwasanoblesighttoseethemsufferingthusinsilence,butitunnervedmealtogether. Iamtoosensitive. Igotwildandfitfulinmyrowing,andsplashedmoreandmore,theharderItriednotto. 

           Igaveitupatlast; IsaidI’drowbow. Bowthoughtthearrangementwouldbebettertoo,andwechangedplaces. Theladiesgaveaninvoluntarysighofreliefwhentheysawmego,andquitebrightenedupforamoment. Poorgirls! theyhadbetterhaveputupwithme. Themantheyhadgotnowwasajolly,light-hearted,thick-headedsortofachap,withaboutasmuchsensitivenessinhimastheremightbeinaNewfoundlandpuppy. Youmightlookdaggersathimforanhourandhewouldnotnoticeit,anditwouldnottroublehimifhedid. Hesetagood,rollicking,dashingstrokethatsentthesprayplayingallovertheboatlikeafountain,andmadethewholecrowdsitupstraightinnotime. Whenhespreadmorethanpintofwateroveroneofthosedresses,hewouldgiveapleasantlittlelaugh,andsay: 

           "Ibegyourpardon,I’msure;"andofferthemhishandkerchieftowipeitoffwith. 

           "Oh,it’sofnoconsequence,"thepoorgirlswouldmurmurinreply,andcovertlydrawrugsandcoatsoverthemselves,andtryandprotectthemselveswiththeirlaceparasols. 

           Atlunchtheyhadaverybadtimeofit. Peoplewantedthemtositonthegrass,andthegrasswasdusty;andthetree-trunks,againstwhichtheywereinvitedtolean,didnotappeartohavebeenbrushedforweeks; sotheyspreadtheirhandkerchiefsonthegroundandsatonthose,boltupright. Somebody,inwalkingaboutwithaplateofbeef-steakpie,trippedupoveraroot,andsentthepieflying.