Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 8
AndHarrisneverseeswhatanassheismakingofhimself,andhowheisannoyingalotofpeoplewhoneverdidhimanyharm. Hehonestlyimaginesthathehasgiventhematreat,andsayshewillsinganothercomicsongaftersupper.
Speakingofcomicsongsandparties,remindsmeofarathercuriousincidentatwhichIonceassisted; which,asitthrowsmuchlightupontheinnermentalworkingofhumannatureingeneral,ought,Ithink,toberecordedinthesepages.
Wewereafashionableandhighlyculturedparty. Wehadonourbestclothes,andwetalkedpretty,andwereveryhappy—allexcepttwoyoungfellows,students,justreturnedfromGermany,commonplaceyoungmen,whoseemedrestlessanduncomfortable,asiftheyfoundtheproceedingsslow. Thetruthwas,weweretoocleverforthem. Ourbrilliantbutpolishedconversation,andourhigh-classtastes,werebeyondthem. Theywereoutofplace,amongus. Theyneveroughttohavebeenthereatall. Everybodyagreeduponthat,lateron.
WeplayedMorceauxfromtheoldGermanmasters. Wediscussedphilosophyandethics. Weflirtedwithgracefuldignity. Wewereevenhumorous—inahigh-classway.
SomebodyrecitedaFrenchpoemaftersupper,andwesaiditwasbeautiful;andthenaladysangasentimentalballadinSpanish,anditmadeoneortwoofusweep—itwassopathetic.
Andthenthosetwoyoungmengotup,andaskedusifwehadeverheardHerrSlossennBoschen(whohadjustarrived,andwasthendowninthesupper-room)singhisgreatGermancomicsong.