Троє в човні крім собаки

           Georgethoughtthemusicmightdohimgood—saidmusicoftensoothedthenervesandtookawayaheadache;andhetwangedtwoorthreenotes,justtoshowHarriswhatitwaslike. 

           Harrissaidhewouldratherhavetheheadache. 

           Georgehasneverlearnedtoplaythebanjotothisday. Hehashadtoomuchall-rounddiscouragementtomeet. Hetriedontwoorthreeevenings,whilewewereuptheriver,togetalittlepractice,butitwasneverasuccess. Harris’slanguageusedtobeenoughtounnerveanyman;addedtowhich,Montmorencywouldsitandhowlsteadily,rightthroughtheperformance. Itwasnotgivingthemanafairchance. 

           "What’shewanttohowllikethatforwhenI’mplaying?"Georgewouldexclaimindignantly,whiletakingaimathimwithaboot. 

           "Whatdoyouwanttoplaylikethatforwhenheishowling?"Harriswouldretort,catchingtheboot. "Youlethimalone. Hecan’thelphowling. He’sgotamusicalear,andyourplayingmakeshimhowl." 

           SoGeorgedeterminedtopostponestudyofthebanjountilhereachedhome. Buthedidnotgetmuchopportunityeventhere. Mrs.P.usedtocomeupandsayshewasverysorry—forherself,shelikedtohearhim—buttheladyupstairswasinaverydelicatestate,andthedoctorwasafraiditmightinjurethechild. 

           ThenGeorgetriedtakingitoutwithhimlateatnight,andpractisingroundthesquare. Buttheinhabitantscomplainedtothepoliceaboutit,andawatchwassetforhimonenight,andhewascaptured.