Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 4
Thehotelbillcametofifteenguineas;andmyfriend,afterreckoningeverythingup,foundthatthecheeseshadcosthimeight-and-sixpenceapound. Hesaidhedearlylovedabitofcheese,butitwasbeyondhismeans;sohedeterminedtogetridofthem. Hethrewthemintothecanal;buthadtofishthemoutagain,asthebargemencomplained. Theysaiditmadethemfeelquitefaint. And,afterthat,hetookthemonedarknightandleftthemintheparishmortuary. Butthecoronerdiscoveredthem,andmadeafearfulfuss.
Hesaiditwasaplottodeprivehimofhislivingbywakingupthecorpses.
Myfriendgotridofthem,atlast,bytakingthemdowntoasea-sidetown,andburyingthemonthebeach. Itgainedtheplacequiteareputation. Visitorssaidtheyhadnevernoticedbeforehowstrongtheairwas,andweak-chestedandconsumptivepeopleusedtothrongthereforyearsafterwards.
FondasIamofcheese,therefore,IholdthatGeorgewasrightindecliningtotakeany.
"Weshan’twantanytea,"saidGeorge(Harris’sfacefellatthis);"butwe’llhaveagoodround,square,slap-upmealatseven—dinner,tea,andsuppercombined."
Harrisgrewmorecheerful. Georgesuggestedmeatandfruitpies,coldmeat,tomatoes,fruit,andgreenstuff. Fordrink,wetooksomewonderfulstickyconcoctionofHarris’s,whichyoumixedwithwaterandcalledlemonade,plentyoftea,andabottleofwhisky,incase,asGeorgesaid,wegotupset.
ItseemedtomethatGeorgeharpedtoomuchonthegetting-upsetidea. Itseemedtomethewrongspirittogoaboutthetripin.