Троє в човні крім собаки

           Agoodmanyofthenewlock-keepers,especiallyinthemorecrowdedportionsoftheriver,areexcitable,nervousoldmen,quiteunfittedfortheirpost. 

           TalkingoflocksremindsmeofanaccidentGeorgeandIverynearlyhadonesummer’smorningatHamptonCourt. 

           Itwasagloriousday,andthelockwascrowded;and,asisacommonpracticeuptheriver,aspeculativephotographerwastakingapictureofusallaswelayupontherisingwaters. 

           Ididnotcatchwhatwasgoingonatfirst,andwas,therefore,extremelysurprisedatnoticingGeorgehurriedlysmoothouthistrousers,ruffleuphishair,andstickhiscaponinarakishmanneratthebackofhishead,andthen,assuminganexpressionofmingledaffabilityandsadness,sitdowninagracefulattitude,andtrytohidehisfeet. 

           Myfirstideawasthathehadsuddenlycaughtsightofsomegirlheknew,andIlookedabouttoseewhoitwas. Everybodyinthelockseemedtohavebeensuddenlystruckwooden. TheywereallstandingorsittingaboutinthemostquaintandcuriousattitudesIhaveeverseenoffaJapanesefan. Allthegirlsweresmiling. Oh,theydidlooksosweet! Andallthefellowswerefrowning,andlookingsternandnoble. 

           Andthen,atlast,thetruthflashedacrossme,andIwonderedifIshouldbeintime. Ourswasthefirstboat,anditwouldbeunkindofmetospoiltheman’spicture,Ithought.