Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 9
Iaskedmycousinifshethoughtitcouldbeadream,andsherepliedthatshewasjustabouttoaskmethesamequestion; andthenwebothwonderedifwewerebothasleep,andifso,whowastherealonethatwasdreaming,andwhowastheonethatwasonlyadream; itgotquiteinteresting.
Istillwentonpulling,however,andstillnolockcameinsight,andtherivergrewmoreandmoregloomyandmysteriousunderthegatheringshadowsofnight,andthingsseemedtobegettingweirdanduncanny. Ithoughtofhobgoblinsandbanshees,andwill-o’-the-wisps,andthosewickedgirlswhositupallnightonrocks,andlurepeopleintowhirl-poolsandthings; andIwishedIhadbeenabetterman,andknewmorehymns; andinthemiddleofthesereflectionsIheardtheblessedstrainsof"He’sgot’emon,"played,badly,onaconcertina,andknewthatweweresaved.
Idonotadmirethetonesofaconcertina,asarule; but,oh!howbeautifulthemusicseemedtousboththen—far,farmorebeautifulthanthevoiceofOrpheusortheluteofApollo,oranythingofthatsortcouldhavesounded. Heavenlymelody,inourthenstateofmind,wouldonlyhavestillfurtherharrowedus. Asoul-movingharmony,correctlyperformed,weshouldhavetakenasaspirit-warning,andhavegivenupallhope. Butaboutthestrainsof"He’sgot’emon,"jerkedspasmodically,andwithinvoluntaryvariations,outofawheezyaccordion,therewassomethingsingularlyhumanandreassuring.