Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Anddon’tyougo,Maria,becauseIshallwantsomebodytoholdmethelight; andwhenthegirlcomesback,shemustgooutagainforabitofpicture-cord;andTom! —where’sTom? —Tom,youcomehere;Ishallwantyoutohandmeupthepicture." 

           Andthenhewouldliftupthepicture,anddropit,anditwouldcomeoutoftheframe,andhewouldtrytosavetheglass,andcuthimself;andthenhewouldspringroundtheroom,lookingforhishandkerchief. Hecouldnotfindhishandkerchief,becauseitwasinthepocketofthecoathehadtakenoff,andhedidnotknowwherehehadputthecoat,andallthehousehadtoleaveofflookingforhistools,andstartlookingforhiscoat;whilehewoulddanceroundandhinderthem. 

           "Doesn’tanybodyinthewholehouseknowwheremycoatis? Inevercameacrosssuchasetinallmylife—uponmywordIdidn’t. Sixofyou!—andyoucan’tfindacoatthatIputdownnotfiveminutesago! Well,ofallthe—" 

           Thenhe’dgetup,andfindthathehadbeensittingonit,andwouldcallout: 

           "Oh,youcangiveitup! I’vefounditmyselfnow. Mightjustaswellaskthecattofindanythingasexpectyoupeopletofindit." 

           And,whenhalfanhourhadbeenspentintyinguphisfinger,andanewglasshadbeengot,andthetools,andtheladder,andthechair,andthecandlehadbeenbrought,hewouldhaveanothergo,thewholefamily,includingthegirlandthecharwoman,standingroundinasemi-circle,readytohelp. Twopeoplewouldhavetoholdthechair,andathirdwouldhelphimuponit,andholdhimthere,andafourthwouldhandhimanail,andafifthwouldpasshimupthehammer,andhewouldtakeholdofthenail,anddropit.