Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Thatismyopinionoftow-linesingeneral. Ofcourse,theremaybehonourableexceptions;Idonotsaythattherearenot. Theremaybetow-linesthatareacredittotheirprofession—conscientious,respectabletow-lines—tow-linesthatdonotimaginetheyarecrochet-work,andtrytoknitthemselvesupintoantimacassarstheinstanttheyarelefttothemselves. Isaytheremaybesuchtow-lines; Isincerelyhopethereare. ButIhavenotmetwiththem. 

           Thistow-lineIhadtakeninmyselfjustbeforewehadgottothelock. IwouldnotletHarristouchit,becauseheiscareless. Ihadloopeditroundslowlyandcautiously,andtieditupinthemiddle,andfoldeditintwo,andlaiditdowngentlyatthebottomoftheboat. Harrishadlifteditupscientifically,andhadputitintoGeorge’shand. Georgehadtakenitfirmly,andhelditawayfromhim,andhadbeguntounravelitasifheweretakingtheswaddlingclothesoffanew-borninfant; and,beforehehadunwoundadozenyards,thethingwasmorelikeabadly-madedoor-matthananythingelse. 

           Itisalwaysthesame,andthesamesortofthingalwaysgoesoninconnectionwithit. Themanonthebank,whoistryingtodisentangleit,thinksallthefaultlieswiththemanwhorolleditup; andwhenamanuptheriverthinksathing,hesaysit.