Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 8
ItwasalongwhilebeforeIcouldgetHarristotakeamoreChristianviewofthesubject,butIsucceededatlast,andhepromisedmethathewouldsparethefriendsandrelationsatallevents,andwouldnotsingcomicsongsontheruins.
YouhaveneverheardHarrissingacomicsong,oryouwouldunderstandtheserviceIhadrenderedtomankind. ItisoneofHarris’sfixedideasthathecansingacomicsong; thefixedidea,onthecontrary,amongthoseofHarris’sfriendswhohaveheardhimtry,isthathecan’tandneverwillbeableto,andthatheoughtnottobeallowedtotry.
WhenHarrisisataparty,andisaskedtosing,hereplies: "Well,Icanonlysingacomicsong,youknow;" andhesaysitinatonethatimpliesthathissingingofthat,however,isathingthatyououghttohearonce,andthendie.
"Oh,thatisnice,"saysthehostess. "Dosingone,Mr.Harris;"andHarrisgetsup,andmakesforthepiano,withthebeamingcheerinessofagenerous-mindedmanwhoisjustabouttogivesomebodysomething.
"Now,silence,please,everybody"saysthehostess,turninground;"Mr.Harrisisgoingtosingacomicsong!"
"Oh,howjolly!"theymurmur;andtheyhurryinfromtheconservatory,andcomeupfromthestairs,andgoandfetcheachotherfromalloverthehouse,andcrowdintothedrawing-room,andsitround,allsmirkinginanticipation.
ThenHarrisbegins.
Well,youdon’tlookformuchofavoiceinacomicsong. Youdon’texpectcorrectphrasingorvocalization.