Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 8
Harris(withkindlyencouragement): "It’sallright. You’redoingitverywell,indeed—goon."
Nervouspianist: "I’mafraidthere’samistakesomewhere. Whatareyousinging?"
Harris(promptly): "WhytheJudge’ssongoutofTrialbyJury. Don’tyouknowit?"
SomefriendofHarris’s(fromthebackoftheroom): "No,you’renot,youchuckle-head,you’resingingtheAdmiral’ssongfromPinafore."
(LongargumentbetweenHarrisandHarris’sfriendastowhatHarrisisreallysinging. Friendfinallysuggeststhatitdoesn’tmatterwhatHarrisissingingsolongasHarrisgetsonandsingsit,andHarris,withanevidentsenseofinjusticeranklinginsidehim,requestspianisttobeginagain. Pianist,thereupon,startspreludetotheAdmiral’ssong,andHarris,seizingwhatheconsiderstobeafavourableopeninginthemusic,begins.)
Harris:"‘WhenIwasyoungandcalledtotheBar.’"
Generalroaroflaughter,takenbyHarrisasacompliment. Pianist,thinkingofhiswifeandfamily,givesuptheunequalcontestandretires;hisplacebeingtakenbyastronger-nervedman.
Thenewpianist(cheerily): "Nowthen,oldman,youstartoff,andI’llfollow. Wewon’tbotheraboutanyprelude."
Harris(uponwhomtheexplanationofmattershasslowlydawned—laughing): "ByJove! Ibegyourpardon. Ofcourse—I’vebeenmixingupthetwosongs. ItwasJenkinsconfusedme,youknow. Nowthen.