Троє в човні крім собаки

           Afterthat,havingacquiredatasteforthewater,Ididagooddealofraftinginvarioussuburbanbrickfields—anexerciseprovidingmoreinterestandexcitementthanmightbeimagined,especiallywhenyouareinthemiddleofthepondandtheproprietorofthematerialsofwhichtheraftisconstructedsuddenlyappearsonthebank,withabigstickinhishand. 

           Yourfirstsensationonseeingthisgentlemanisthat,somehoworother,youdon’tfeelequaltocompanyandconversation,andthat,ifyoucoulddosowithoutappearingrude,youwouldratheravoidmeetinghim; andyourobjectis,therefore,togetoffontheoppositesideofthepondtowhichheis,andtogohomequietlyandquickly,pretendingnottoseehim. He,onthecontraryisyearningtotakeyoubythehand,andtalktoyou. 

           Itappearsthatheknowsyourfather,andisintimatelyacquaintedwithyourself,butthisdoesnotdrawyoutowardshim. Hesayshe’llteachyoutotakehisboardsandmakearaftofthem; but,seeingthatyouknowhowtodothisprettywellalready,theoffer,thoughdoubtlesskindlymeant,seemsasuperfluousoneonhispart,andyouarereluctanttoputhimtoanytroublebyacceptingit. 

           Hisanxietytomeetyou,however,isproofagainstallyourcoolness,andtheenergeticmannerinwhichhedodgesupanddownthepondsoastobeonthespottogreetyouwhenyoulandisreallyquiteflattering.