Chapter 14 Work， washing， and fishing 
　  
　　We woke up late the next morning， and it was about ten o'clock when we moved off． We had already decided that we wanted to make this a good day's journey． 
　　We agreed that we would row， and not tow， the boat． Harris said that George and I should row，and he would steer．I did not like this idea at all．I said that he and George should row，so that I could rest a little．I thought that I was doing too much of the work on this trip． I was beginning to feel strongly about it． 
　　I always think that I am doing too much work． It is not be－cause I do not like work． I do like it． I find it very interesting．I can sit and look at it for hours． You cannot give me too much work．I like to collect it．My study is full of it． 
　　And I am very careful with my work， too．Why，some of the work in my study has been there for years， and it has not got dirty or anything．That is because I take care of it． 
　　However，although I love work， I do not want to take other poople's work from them But I get it without asking for it，and this worries me． 
　　George says that I should not worry about it． In fact， he thinks that perhaps I should have more work．However， I ex－pect he only says that to make me feel better． 
　　In a boat， I have noticed that each person thinks that he is doing all the work． Harris's idea was that both George and I had let him do all the work． George said that Harris never did anything except eat and sleep． He， George， had done all the work．He said that he had never met such lazy people as Harris and me． 
　　That amused Harris． 
　　'George！ Work！'he laughed．'If George worked for half an hour， it would kill him． Have you ever seen George work？'he added， and he turned to me． 
　　I agreed with Harris that I had never seen George work． 
　　'Well，how can you know？'George answered Harris． 
　　'You're always asleep． Have you ever seen Harris awake， ex-cept at meal times？'George asked me． 
　　I had to tell the truth and agree with George．Harris had done very little work in the boat． 
　　'Oh， come on！ I've done more than old J．， anyway，'Harris replied． 
　　'Well，it would be difficult to do less，'George added． 
　　'Oh，him，he thinks he's a passenger and doesn't need to work！'Harris said． 
　　And that was how grateful they were to me， after I had brought them and their old boat all the way up from Kingston；after I had organized everything for them；and after I had tak－en care of them！ 
　　Finally， we decided that Harris and George would row until we got past Reading， and then I would tow the boat from there． 
　　We reached Reading at about eleven o'clock． We did not stay long， though， because the river is dirty there．However， af－ter that it becomes very beautiful．Goring， on the left， and Streatley，on the right，are both very pretty places．Earlier，we had decided to go on to Wallingford that day， but the river was lovely at Streatley．We left our boat at the bridge，and we went into the village．we had lunch at a little pub，and Montmorency enjoyed that． 
　　We stayed at Streatley for two days， and we took our clothes to be washed．We had tried to wash them ourselves， in the river，and George had told us what to do．This was not a suc－cess！ Before we washed them， they were very，very dirty，but we could just wear them． After we had washed them， they were worse than before．However，the river between Reading and Henley was cleaner because we had taken all the dirt from it， and we had washed it into our clothes． The woman who washed them at Streatley made us pay three times the usual price． 
　　We paid her， and did not say a word about the cost． 
　　The river near Streatley and Goring is excellent for fishing．You can sit and fish there all day． 
　　Some people do sit and fish all day．They never catch any fish， of course． You may catch a dead cat or two， but you will not catch any fish． When you go for a walk by the river， the fish come and stand half out of the water， with their mouths open for bread．And if you go swimming， they all come and stare at you and get in your way．But you cannot catch them． 
　　On the second evening， George and I and Montmorency（ I do not know where Harris was） went for a walk to Walling－ford．On the way back to the boat， we stopped at a little pub，by the river． 
　　We went in and sat down．There was an old man there．He was smoking a pipe， and we began to talk to him． 
　　He told us that it had been a fine day today， and we told him that it had been a fine day yesterday．Then we all told each other that we thought it would be a fine day tomorrow． 
　　We told him that we were on holiday on the river，and that we were going to leave the next day． Then we stopped talking for a few minutes， and we began to look round the room． We noticed a glass case on the wall． In it there was a very big fish． 
　　The old man saw that we were looking at this fish． 
　　'Ah，'he said，' that's a big fish， isn't it？' 
　　'Yes， it is，'I replied． 
　　'Yes，'the old man continued，'it was sixteen years ago． I caught him just by the bridge．' 
　　'Did you，really？'George asked． 
　　'Yes，'the man answered．'They told me he was in the river． I said I'd catch him， and I did． You don't see many fish as big as that one now． Well， good night， then．'And he went out． 
　　After that，we could not take our eyes off the fish． It really was a fine fish．We were still looking at it when another man came in．He had a glass of beer in his hand，and he also looked at the fish． 
　　'That's a fine， big fish， isn't it？'George said to him． 
　　'Ah，yes，'the man replied．He drank some of his beer，and then he added，'Perhaps you weren't here when it was caught？' 
　　'No，'we said，and we explained that we did not live there．We said that we were only there on holiday． 
　　'Ah， well，'the man went on，'it was nearly five years ago that I caught that fish．' 
　　'Oh，did you catch it then？'I asked． 
　　'Yes，'he replied．'I caught him by the lock…Well，good-night to you．' 
　　Five minutes later a third man came in and described how he had caught the fish， early one morning． He left， and another man came in and sat down by the window． 
　　Nobody spoke for some time．Then George turned to the man and said，'Excuse me，I hope you don't mind， but my friend and I， who are only on holiday here， would like to ask you a question．Could you tell us how you caught that fish？' 
　　'Who told you that I caught that fish？'he asked． 
　　We said that nobody had told us．We just felt that he was the man who had caught it． 
　　'Well， that's very strange，'he answered， with a little laugh．' You're right． I did catch it．'And he went on to tell us how he had done it，and that it had taken him half an hour to land it． 
　　When he left， the landlord came in to talk to us．We told him the different stories we had heard about his fish．He was very amused and we all laughed about it．And then he told us the re－al story of the fish． 
　　He said that he had caught it himself， years ago， when he was a boy．It was a lovely，sunny afternoon，and instead of go－ing to school， he went fishing． That was when he caught the fish． Everyone thought he was very clever． Even his teacher thought he had done well and did not punish him． 
　　He had to go out of the room just then， and we turned to look at the fish again． George became very excited about it， and he climbed up onto a chair to see it better． 
　　And then George fell，and he caught hold of the glass case to save himself．It came down， with George and the chair on top of it． 
　　'Is the fish all right？'I cried． 
　　'I hope so， 'George said． He stood up carefully and looked round．But the fish was lying on the floor-in a thousand pieces！ 
　　It was not a real fish． 
　  
14 干活、洗衣和钓鱼 
　  
　　第二天早晨我们很晚才醒，直到十点钟才出发。我们已经打定主意，今天要好好地玩上一天。 
　　我们一致同意，今天改划船，不拉纤了。哈里斯说乔治和我应该划船，他来掌舵。我根本不同意。我说应该让他和乔治划船，而让我休息休息。我觉得在这次旅程中，我干的活太多了，对此我愈发不能忍受了。 
　　每次我都觉得自己干的活太多了。这倒不是我不喜欢干活。我热爱工作，也感到工作很有趣。我能坐着几个小时看要干的活儿。你给我多少工作，我都不嫌多，因为我喜欢收藏，书房里都堆满了。 
　　这些工作，我可爱惜呢。很多放在书房里有年头了，可是一点灰尘都没有。那是因为我爱护它们。 
　　尽管我喜欢工作，可我不想把别人的工作也揽过来。往往是我没要求，它却找上门来，真让我烦恼。 
　　乔治劝我对这个问题不必太在意。实际上，他觉得我应该再多干点呢。我把他说的这些只当成安慰我的话。 
　　我注意到，无论在哪条船上，每个人都觉得自己把所有的活都干了。哈里斯觉得乔治和我让他干了所有的活。乔治说哈里斯除了睡觉吃饭，什么也没干。只有他——乔治，才真正把什么都包了。他说，从来没有见过象我和哈里斯这么懒的人。 
　　哈里斯听了此话又好气，又好笑。 
　　“什么？！乔治干活？”他笑道。“他只要干上半个小时准得要了他的命！你见过乔治干过活没有？”他转过脸来问我。 
　　我同意哈里斯的话，确实没见乔治干过活。 
　　“哼！你们怎么会知道我干的活呢？”乔治反驳哈里斯一句。“你总在睡，睡，还是睡！你看见过哈里斯醒的时候吗？除了吃饭？”他转过脸来问我。 
　　我只能说实话，支持乔治的说法，哈里斯在船上确实没干过什么。 
　　“哦，得了，我总比老杰干得多吧，”哈里斯回答说。 
　　“是的，想比他干得更少有点不大可能，”乔治附和道。 
　　“他呀，把自己当成船上的乘客，不必工作！”哈里斯说。 
　　这就是他们对我的报答！我把他们两个和这条破船从金斯敦一直拉到这里，为他们安排好一切，照顾他们一路，这就是他们对我的报答！ 
　　最后我们决定由哈里斯和乔治把船划到雷丁，从雷丁以后由我来拉纤。 
　　将近十一点钟，我们到了雷丁。我们没在那里久留，因为河水很不干净，然而雷丁以上那一段河上风光就非常可爱了。左边有戈灵，右边是斯特雷特利，都是景致优美的地方。我们本来打算当天赶到沃灵福德，可是斯特雷特利这一带景色使我们流连忘返。我们便在桥边弃舟登岸，走进了这个小村庄，在一个小酒馆吃了午餐，“元帅”在这里也玩得很开心。 
　　我们在斯特雷特利住了两天，把衣服洗了。这次是我们在河里自己洗的，乔治告诉我们怎么洗，我们就怎么洗。结果是令人不堪回首的失败。没洗之前，我们的衣服已经很脏了，但是还可以对付穿。可是，洗了之后呢，反倒比以前更糟了。不过，从雷丁到亨利的河水一下子更清澈了，因为我们把河里所有污物都收集到一起，洗到我们的衣服里去了。斯特雷特利的洗衣妇管我们要了平常价格的三倍才肯给我们洗。 
　　我们照单付款，一声也没报怨我们的花费。 
　　斯特雷特利和戈灵附近的河上可是个钓鱼的绝佳去处，你可以坐在这儿，整整钓上一天。 
　　确实有人整天坐着钓鱼，当然，不过就是钓不着。也许你能钓上一两只死猫，可你别想钓着鱼。你在河边散步时，鱼游过来，一半身子站在水外，张着嘴要面包。要是你去游泳，它们全都游过来，瞪着你看，挡着你的路。可是想抓住它们，没门。 
　　第二天晚上，乔治，我，还有“元帅”去沃灵福德转了一圈（哈里斯不知道上哪儿去了）。回来的时候，经过河边一家小酒馆，我们歇了歇脚。 
　　我们走进去，坐下来。还有一位老先生也在那里，抽着烟斗，我们便和他聊起来。 
　　他对我们说，今天天气很好。我们对他说，昨天天气也不错。然后我们一起预测，明天天气大概也不会坏。 
　　我们又告诉他我们在河上度假旅行，明天就又要启程了。接着，谈话沉默了一会儿，我们四处打量着屋子，最后眼光转到墙上挂着的一个玻璃匣子，里面装着一条大鱼。 
　　那位老先生看到我们正盯着那条鱼。 
　　“啊，”他说，“真是条大鱼，是吧？” 
　　“是啊，是啊，”我答道。 
　　“那是……”老人继续说，“十六年前了，我在桥边钓上来的。” 
　　“哦，是吗？”乔治问道。 
　　“是的，”老人答道。“他们说河里有一条这样的鱼。我就说，我要把它钓上来，真的就钓上来了。现在这么大个的鱼很少见了。好吧，再见吧。”说着就走了出去。 
　　我们一直还目不转睛地看着那条鱼，真是条出色的鱼。我们正看着，又进来一个人。他手里拿着一杯啤酒，眼睛也盯着那条鱼。 
　　“可真是条大鱼啊！”乔治对那人说。 
　　“啊，是的，”那人回答说。接着喝了一口啤酒，又说道：“这条鱼给钓上来的时候，你们也许还不在这儿吧？” 
　　“不在，”我们对他说，我们不住在这儿，只是来这里度假。 
　　“啊，是这样，”那人说，“五年前吧，我钓到了这条鱼。” 
　　“那么，这鱼是你钓到的了？”我问。 
　　“正是的。”他答。“在那边水闸下钓到的……好吧，那么再见吧。” 
　　五分钟之后，进来了第三个客人，跟我们描述了一番他是怎么样一大早就钓着这条鱼的。他走了，又来了一位，在窗口坐下来。 
　　有一会儿，我们都没说话。然后乔治转过去向那个人说道：“请原谅，希望您别介意。我的朋友和我在此度假，恕我们冒昧问您一个问题。能否请您谈一谈您是怎样钓到那条鱼的，好吗？” 
　　“谁告诉你们说那条鱼是我钓着的？”他问。 
　　我们说，谁也没有告诉我们，不过我们觉得那条鱼是他钓着的。 
　　“啊！真是奇事，”他回答道，笑了起来。“一点不错，是我钓着的。”接着他又描述了他怎么钓着的，怎么花了半个小时才把这条鱼拖上岸的。 
　　他走了以后，酒店老板进了屋，来和我们聊天。我们就把刚才听到的各人的故事给他又讲了一遍。他觉得非常有趣，我们一起捧腹大笑。然后他告诉了我们这条鱼真正的来历。 
　　他告诉我们这鱼是他自己钓上来的。那时他还是个毛孩子呢！记得那是个阳光明媚的下午，他没去上学，溜出去钓鱼，就是那会儿把鱼钓上来的。大家都夸他聪明，就连老师也说他干得不错，因此没有惩罚他。 
　　这时，老板有事要出去一下，我们又转过头来看着这条鱼发呆。乔治心情激动，抑制不住，连忙爬到椅上看个真切。 
　　突然，乔治摔了下去，他伸手抓住玻璃匣子支撑他一下，谁知它也滑下来，乔治连人带椅一齐压在上面。 
　　“鱼没事吧？”我叫了一声。 
　　“但愿没事。”乔治说着，小心翼翼地站起身，四下看了看。可是鱼躺在地上——给摔成了几千瓣了。 
　　原来，这根本就不是一条真鱼。 
　　　    


 