Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 18
RoundCliftonHampden,itselfawonderfullyprettyvillage,old-fashioned,peaceful,anddaintywithflowers,theriversceneryisrichandbeautiful. IfyoustaythenightonlandatClifton,youcannotdobetterthanputupatthe"BarleyMow." Itis,withoutexception,Ishouldsay,thequaintest,mostold-worldinnuptheriver. Itstandsontherightofthebridge,quiteawayfromthevillage. Itslow-pitchedgablesandthatchedroofandlatticedwindowsgiveitquiteastory-bookappearance,whileinsideitisevenstillmoreonce-upon-a-timeyfied.
Itwouldnotbeagoodplacefortheheroineofamodernnoveltostayat. Theheroineofamodernnovelisalways"divinelytall,"andsheisever"drawingherselfuptoherfullheight." Atthe"BarleyMow"shewouldbumpherheadagainsttheceilingeachtimeshedidthis.
Itwouldalsobeabadhouseforadrunkenmantoputupat. Therearetoomanysurprisesinthewayofunexpectedstepsdownintothisroomandupintothat;andasforgettingupstairstohisbedroom,oreverfindinghisbedwhenhegotup,eitheroperationwouldbeanutterimpossibilitytohim.
Wewereupearlythenextmorning,aswewantedtobeinOxfordbytheafternoon. Itissurprisinghowearlyonecangetup,whencampingout. Onedoesnotyearnfor"justanotherfiveminutes"nearlysomuch,lyingwrappedupinarugontheboardsofaboat,withaGladstonebagforapillow,asonedoesinafeatherbed.
