Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 11
Harrissaiditwasthefaultofthefrying-pan,andthoughtitwouldhavegonebetterifwehadhadafish-kettleandagas-stove; andwedecidednottoattemptthedishagainuntilwehadthoseaidstohousekeepingbyus.
Thesunhadgotmorepowerfulbythetimewehadfinishedbreakfast,andthewindhaddropped,anditwasaslovelyamorningasonecoulddesire. Littlewasinsighttoremindusofthenineteenthcentury;and,aswelookedoutupontheriverinthemorningsunlight,wecouldalmostfancythatthecenturiesbetweenusandthatever-to-be-famousJunemorningof1215hadbeendrawnaside, andthatwe,Englishyeomen’ssonsinhomespuncloth,withdirkatbelt,werewaitingtheretowitnessthewritingofthatstupendouspageofhistory,themeaningwhereofwastobetranslatedtothecommonpeoplesomefourhundredandoddyearslaterbyoneOliverCromwell,whohaddeeplystudiedit.
Itisafinesummermorning—sunny,soft,andstill. Butthroughtheairthererunsathrillofcomingstir. KingJohnhassleptatDuncroftHall,andallthedaybeforethelittletownofStaineshasechoedtotheclangofarmedmen,andtheclatterofgreathorsesoveritsroughstones,andtheshoutsofcaptains,andthegrimoathsandsurlyjestsofbeardedbowmen,billmen,pikemen,andstrange-speakingforeignspearmen.
Gay-cloakedcompaniesofknightsandsquireshaveriddenin,alltravel-stainedanddusty.
