Троє в човні крім собаки

           Theevidenceagainsthimwasveryclear,andhewasboundovertokeepthepeaceforsixmonths. 

           Heseemedtoloseheartinthebusinessafterthat. Hedidmakeoneortwofeebleeffortstotakeuptheworkagainwhenthesixmonthshadelapsed,buttherewasalwaysthesamecoldness—thesamewantofsympathyonthepartoftheworldtofightagainst; and,afterawhile,hedespairedaltogether,andadvertisedtheinstrumentforsaleatagreatsacrifice—"ownerhavingnofurtheruseforsame"—andtooktolearningcardtricksinstead. 

           Itmustbedishearteningworklearningamusicalinstrument. YouwouldthinkthatSociety,foritsownsake,woulddoallitcouldtoassistamantoacquiretheartofplayingamusicalinstrument. Butitdoesn’t! 

           Iknewayoungfellowonce,whowasstudyingtoplaythebagpipes,andyouwouldbesurprisedattheamountofoppositionhehadtocontendwith. Why,notevenfromthemembersofhisownfamilydidhereceivewhatyoucouldcallactiveencouragement. Hisfatherwasdeadagainstthebusinessfromthebeginning,andspokequiteunfeelinglyonthesubject. 

           Myfriendusedtogetupearlyinthemorningtopractise,buthehadtogivethatplanup,becauseofhissister. Shewassomewhatreligiouslyinclined,andshesaiditseemedsuchanawfulthingtobeginthedaylikethat. 

           Sohesatupatnightinstead,andplayedafterthefamilyhadgonetobed,butthatdidnotdo,asitgotthehousesuchabadname.