Трое в лодке не считая собаки
Chapter 8
Youdon’tmindifamandoesfindout,wheninthemiddleofanote,thatheistoohigh,andcomesdownwithajerk. Youdon’tbotherabouttime. Youdon’tmindamanbeingtwobarsinfrontoftheaccompaniment,andeasingupinthemiddleofalinetoargueitoutwiththepianist,andthenstartingtheverseafresh. Butyoudoexpectthewords.
Youdon’texpectamantoneverremembermorethanthefirstthreelinesofthefirstverse,andtokeeponrepeatingtheseuntilitistimetobeginthechorus. Youdon’texpectamantobreakoffinthemiddleofaline,andsnigger,andsay,it’sveryfunny,buthe’sblestifhecanthinkoftherestofit,andthentryandmakeitupforhimself,and,afterwards,suddenlyrecollectit,whenhehasgottoanentirelydifferentpartofthesong,andbreakoff,withoutawordofwarning,togobackandletyouhaveitthenandthere. Youdon’t—well,IwilljustgiveyouanideaofHarris’scomicsinging,andthenyoucanjudgeofitforyourself.
Harris(standingupinfrontofpianoandaddressingtheexpectantmob): "I’mafraidit’saveryoldthing,youknow. Iexpectyouallknowit,youknow. Butit’stheonlythingIknow. It’stheJudge’ssongoutofPinafore—no,Idon’tmeanPinafore—Imean—youknowwhatImean—theotherthing,youknow. Youmustalljoininthechorus,youknow."
(Murmursofdelightandanxietytojoininthechorus. BrilliantperformanceofpreludetotheJudge’ssongin"TrialbyJury"bynervousPianist. MomentarrivesforHarristojoinin. Harristakesnonoticeofit. Nervouspianistcommencespreludeoveragain,andHarris,commencingsingingatthesametime,dashesoffthefirsttwolinesoftheFirstLord’ssongoutof"Pinafore." Nervouspianisttriestopushonwithprelude,givesitup,andtriestofollowHarriswithaccompanimenttoJudge’ssongout"TrialbyJury,"findsthatdoesn’tanswer,andtriestorecollectwhatheisdoing,andwhereheis,feelshismindgivingway,andstopsshort.)