Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
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<strong>the</strong>mselves up <strong>on</strong> purpose, and I am not prepared to ma<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
that <strong>the</strong> charge was altoge<strong>the</strong>r false. To add to his troubles, <strong>on</strong>e<br />
child always had a sticky face; and that child would always be<br />
<strong>the</strong> most affecti<strong>on</strong>ate.<br />
If th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gs were go<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g too smoothly, <strong>the</strong> eldest boy would<br />
come out with some tale about all <strong>the</strong> clocks <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> house be<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
five m<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>utes slow, and of his hav<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g been late for school<br />
<strong>the</strong> previous day <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sequence. This would send my uncle<br />
rush<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g impetuously down to <strong>the</strong> gate, where he would recollect<br />
that he had with him nei<strong>the</strong>r his bag nor his umbrella. All<br />
<strong>the</strong> children that my aunt could not stop would charge after<br />
him, two of <strong>the</strong>m struggl<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g for <strong>the</strong> umbrella, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs surg<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
round <strong>the</strong> bag. And when <strong>the</strong>y returned we would discover<br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> hall table <strong>the</strong> most important th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g of all that he had<br />
forgotten, and w<strong>on</strong>dered what he would say about it when he<br />
came home.<br />
We arrived at Waterloo a little after n<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e, and at <strong>on</strong>ce proceeded<br />
to put George’s experiment <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to operati<strong>on</strong>. Open<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> book at <strong>the</strong> chapter entitled “At <strong>the</strong> Cab Rank,” we walked<br />
up to a hansom, raised our hats, and wished <strong>the</strong> driver “Goodmorn<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g.”<br />
This man was not to be outd<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> politeness by any foreigner,<br />
real or imitati<strong>on</strong>. Call<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to a friend named “Charles”<br />
to “hold <strong>the</strong> steed,” he sprang from his box, and returned to us<br />
a bow, that would have d<strong>on</strong>e credit to Mr. Turveydrop himself.<br />
Speak<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g apparently <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>, he welcomed<br />
us to England, add<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g a regret that Her Majesty was not at <strong>the</strong><br />
moment <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>.<br />
We could not reply to him <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> k<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d. Noth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g of this sort had<br />
been anticipated by <strong>the</strong> book. We called him “coachman,” at<br />
which he aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> bowed to <strong>the</strong> pavement, and asked him if he<br />
would have <strong>the</strong> goodness to drive us to <strong>the</strong> Westm<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ster Bridge<br />
road.<br />
He laid his hand up<strong>on</strong> his heart, and said <strong>the</strong> pleasure would<br />
be his.