Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn -- Disadvantages of living in same house with pair of lovers -- A trying time for the English nation -- A night search for the picturesque -- Homeless and houseless -- Harris prepares to die -- An angel comes along -- Effect of sudden joy on Harris -- A little supper -- Lunch -- High price for mustard -- A fearful battle -- Maidenhead -- Sailing -- Three fishers -- We are cursed.

I was sitting on the bank, conjuring up this scene to myself, when George remarked that when I was quite rested, perhaps I would not mind helping to wash up; and, thus recalled from the days of the glorious past to the prosaic present, with all its misery and sin, I slid down into the boat and cleaned out the frying-pan with a stick of wood and a tuft of grass, polishing it up finally with George's wet shirt.