Троє в човні крім собаки

           Haveyoueverbeeninahousewherethereareacouplecourting? Itismosttrying. Youthinkyouwillgoandsitinthedrawing-room,andyoumarchoffthere. Asyouopenthedoor,youhearanoiseasifsomebodyhadsuddenlyrecollectedsomething,and,whenyougetin,Emilyisoverbythewindow,fullofinterestintheoppositesideoftheroad,andyourfriend,JohnEdward,isattheotherendoftheroomwithhiswholesoulheldinthrallbyphotographsofotherpeople’srelatives. 

           "Oh!"yousay,pausingatthedoor,"Ididn’tknowanybodywashere." 

           "Oh!didn’tyou?"saysEmily,coldly,inatonewhichimpliesthatshedoesnotbelieveyou. 

           Youhangaboutforabit,thenyousay: 

           "It’sverydark.Whydon’tyoulightthegas?" 

           JohnEdwardsays,"Oh!"hehadn’tnoticedit; andEmilysaysthatpapadoesnotlikethegaslitintheafternoon. 

           Youtellthemoneortwoitemsofnews,andgivethemyourviewsandopinionsontheIrishquestion;butthisdoesnotappeartointerestthem. Alltheyremarkonanysubjectis,"Oh!""Isit?""Didhe?""Yes,"and"Youdon’tsayso!" And,aftertenminutesofsuchstyleofconversation,youedgeuptothedoor,andslipout,andaresurprisedtofindthatthedoorimmediatelyclosesbehindyou,andshutsitself,withoutyourhavingtouchedit. 

           Halfanhourlater,youthinkyouwilltryapipeintheconservatory.