Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 9
Thesweetsoundsdrewnearer,andsoontheboatfromwhichtheywereworkedlayalongsideus.
Itcontainedapartyofprovincial’Arrysand’Arriets,outforamoonlightsail. (Therewasnotanymoon,butthatwasnottheirfault.) Ineversawmoreattractive,lovablepeopleinallmylife. Ihailedthem,andaskediftheycouldtellmethewaytoWallingfordlock;andIexplainedthatIhadbeenlookingforitforthelasttwohours.
"Wallingfordlock!"theyanswered. "Lor’loveyou,sir,that’sbeendoneawaywithforoverayear. Thereain’tnoWallingfordlocknow,sir. You’reclosetoCleevenow. Blowmetightif’ereain’tagentlemanbeenlookingforWallingfordlock,Bill!"
Ihadneverthoughtofthat. Iwantedtofalluponalltheirnecksandblessthem; butthestreamwasrunningtoostrongjusttheretoallowofthis,soIhadtocontentmyselfwithmerecold-soundingwordsofgratitude.
Wethankedthemoverandoveragain,andwesaiditwasalovelynight,andwewishedthemapleasanttrip,and,Ithink,Iinvitedthemalltocomeandspendaweekwithme,andmycousinsaidhermotherwouldbesopleasedtoseethem. Andwesangthesoldiers’chorusoutofFaust,andgothomeintimeforsupper,afterall.
