Троє в човні крім собаки

           ButI’mgladwetookthewhisky. 

           Wedidn’ttakebeerorwine. Theyareamistakeuptheriver. Theymakeyoufeelsleepyandheavy. Aglassintheeveningwhenyouaredoingamouchroundthetownandlookingatthegirlsisallrightenough;butdon’tdrinkwhenthesunisblazingdownonyourhead,andyou’vegothardworktodo. 

           Wemadealistofthethingstobetaken,andaprettylengthyoneitwas,beforewepartedthatevening. Thenextday,whichwasFriday,wegotthemalltogether,andmetintheeveningtopack. WegotabigGladstonefortheclothes,andacoupleofhampersforthevictualsandthecookingutensils. Wemovedthetableupagainstthewindow,piledeverythinginaheapinthemiddleofthefloor,andsatroundandlookedatit. 

           IsaidI’dpack. 

           Iratherpridemyselfonmypacking. PackingisoneofthosemanythingsthatIfeelIknowmoreaboutthananyotherpersonliving. (Itsurprisesmemyself,sometimes,howmanyofthesesubjectsthereare.) IimpressedthefactuponGeorgeandHarris,andtoldthemthattheyhadbetterleavethewholematterentirelytome. Theyfellintothesuggestionwithareadinessthathadsomethinguncannyaboutit. Georgeputonapipeandspreadhimselfovertheeasy-chair,andHarriscockedhislegsonthetableandlitacigar. 

           ThiswashardlywhatIintended. WhatIhadmeant,ofcourse,was,thatIshouldbossthejob,andthatHarrisandGeorgeshouldpotteraboutundermydirections,Ipushingthemasideeverynowandthenwith, "Oh,you—!""Here,letmedoit.""Thereyouare,simpleenough!"—reallyteachingthem,asyoumightsay.