Then we thought we were going to have supper (we had dispensed with tea, so as to save time), but George said no; that we had better get the canvas up first, before it got quite dark, and while we could see what we were doing.
Allora pensammo di prepararci da cena (avevamo rinunziato al tè, per risparmiar tempo), ma Giorgio disse di no: era meglio, prima che si facesse buio, mentre si poteva vedere ciò che si faceva, stendere la tela.