Троє в човні крім собаки

           People,goinghomelate,wouldstopoutsidetolisten,andthenputitaboutalloverthetown,thenextmorning,thatafearfulmurderhadbeencommittedatMr.Jefferson’sthenightbefore; andwoulddescribehowtheyhadheardthevictim’sshrieksandthebrutaloathsandcursesofthemurderer,followedbytheprayerformercy,andthelastdyinggurgleofthecorpse. 

           Sotheylethimpractiseintheday-time,intheback-kitchenwithallthedoorsshut; buthismoresuccessfulpassagescouldgenerallybeheardinthesitting-room,inspiteoftheseprecautions,andwouldaffecthismotheralmosttotears. 

           Shesaiditputherinmindofherpoorfather(hehadbeenswallowedbyashark,poorman,whilebathingoffthecoastofNewGuinea—wheretheconnectioncamein,shecouldnotexplain). 

           Thentheyknockedupalittleplaceforhimatthebottomofthegarden,aboutquarterofamilefromthehouse,andmadehimtakethemachinedowntherewhenhewantedtoworkit; andsometimesavisitorwouldcometothehousewhoknewnothingofthematter,andtheywouldforgettotellhimallaboutit,andcautionhim,andhewouldgooutforastrollroundthegardenandsuddenlygetwithinearshotofthosebagpipes,withoutbeingpreparedforit,orknowingwhatitwas. Ifhewereamanofstrongmind,itonlygavehimfits;butapersonofmereaverageintellectitusuallysentmad. 

           Thereis,itmustbeconfessed,somethingverysadabouttheearlyeffortsofanamateurinbagpipes.