Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           AndHarrisneverseeswhatanassheismakingofhimself,andhowheisannoyingalotofpeoplewhoneverdidhimanyharm. Hehonestlyimaginesthathehasgiventhematreat,andsayshewillsinganothercomicsongaftersupper. 

           Speakingofcomicsongsandparties,remindsmeofarathercuriousincidentatwhichIonceassisted; which,asitthrowsmuchlightupontheinnermentalworkingofhumannatureingeneral,ought,Ithink,toberecordedinthesepages. 

           Wewereafashionableandhighlyculturedparty. Wehadonourbestclothes,andwetalkedpretty,andwereveryhappy—allexcepttwoyoungfellows,students,justreturnedfromGermany,commonplaceyoungmen,whoseemedrestlessanduncomfortable,asiftheyfoundtheproceedingsslow. Thetruthwas,weweretoocleverforthem. Ourbrilliantbutpolishedconversation,andourhigh-classtastes,werebeyondthem. Theywereoutofplace,amongus. Theyneveroughttohavebeenthereatall. Everybodyagreeduponthat,lateron. 

           WeplayedMorceauxfromtheoldGermanmasters. Wediscussedphilosophyandethics. Weflirtedwithgracefuldignity. Wewereevenhumorous—inahigh-classway. 

           SomebodyrecitedaFrenchpoemaftersupper,andwesaiditwasbeautiful;andthenaladysangasentimentalballadinSpanish,anditmadeoneortwoofusweep—itwassopathetic. 

           Andthenthosetwoyoungmengotup,andaskedusifwehadeverheardHerrSlossennBoschen(whohadjustarrived,andwasthendowninthesupper-room)singhisgreatGermancomicsong.