Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Youknowmyhairisasortofgoldenbrown,ratheraprettyshadeI’vebeentold,andadarkredmatchesitbeautifully; andthenIalwaysthinkalight-bluenecktiegoessowellwithit,andapairofthoseRussian-leathershoesandaredsilkhandkerchiefroundthewaist—ahandkerchieflookssomuchbetterthanabelt. 

           Harrisalwayskeepstoshadesormixturesoforangeoryellow,butIdon’tthinkheisatallwiseinthis. Hiscomplexionistoodarkforyellows. Yellowsdon’tsuithim:therecanbenoquestionaboutit. Iwanthimtotaketoblueasabackground,withwhiteorcreamforrelief; but,there!thelesstasteapersonhasindress,themoreobstinatehealwaysseemstobe. Itisagreatpity,becausehewillneverbeasuccessasitis,whilethereareoneortwocoloursinwhichhemightnotreallylooksobad,withhishaton. 

           Georgehasboughtsomenewthingsforthistrip,andI’mrathervexedaboutthem. Theblazerisloud. IshouldnotlikeGeorgetoknowthatIthoughtso,buttherereallyisnootherwordforit. HebroughtithomeandshowedittousonThursdayevening. Weaskedhimwhatcolourhecalledit,andhesaidhedidn’tknow.Hedidn’tthinktherewasanameforthecolour. ThemanhadtoldhimitwasanOrientaldesign. Georgeputiton,andaskeduswhatwethoughtofit. Harrissaidthat,asanobjecttohangoveraflower-bedinearlyspringtofrightenthebirdsaway,heshouldrespectit;butthat,consideredasanarticleofdressforanyhumanbeing,exceptaMargatenigger,itmadehimill. Georgegotquitehuffy;but,asHarrissaid,ifhedidn’twanthisopinion,whydidheaskforit? 

           WhattroublesHarrisandmyself,withregardtoit,isthatweareafraiditwillattractattentiontotheboat. 

           Girls,also,don’tlookhalfbadinaboat,ifprettilydressed. Nothingismorefetching,tomythinking,thanatastefulboatingcostume.