Троє в човні крім собаки

           Why,someoftheworkthatIhavebymenowhasbeeninmypossessionforyearsandyears,andthereisn’tafinger-markonit. Itakeagreatprideinmywork;Itakeitdownnowandthenanddustit. NomankeepshisworkinabetterstateofpreservationthanIdo. 

           But,thoughIcraveforwork,Istillliketobefair. Idonotaskformorethanmypropershare. 

           ButIgetitwithoutaskingforit—atleast,soitappearstome—andthisworriesme. 

           GeorgesayshedoesnotthinkIneedtroublemyselfonthesubject. Hethinksitisonlymyover-scrupulousnaturethatmakesmefearIamhavingmorethanmydue;andthat,asamatteroffact,Idon’thavehalfasmuchasIought. ButIexpectheonlysaysthistocomfortme. 

           Inaboat,Ihavealwaysnoticedthatitisthefixedideaofeachmemberofthecrewthatheisdoingeverything. Harris’snotionwas,thatitwashealonewhohadbeenworking,andthatbothGeorgeandIhadbeenimposinguponhim. George,ontheotherhand,ridiculedtheideaofHarris’shavingdoneanythingmorethaneatandsleep,andhadacast-ironopinionthatitwashe—Georgehimself—whohaddoneallthelabourworthspeakingof. 

           HesaidhehadneverbeenoutwithsuchacoupleoflazilyskulksasHarrisandI. 

           ThatamusedHarris. 

           "FancyoldGeorgetalkingaboutwork!"helaughed; "why,abouthalf-an-hourofitwouldkillhim. HaveyoueverseenGeorgework?"headded,turningtome.