The Bed-Book of Happiness by Harold Begbie
page 57 of 431 (13%)
page 57 of 431 (13%)
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After breakfast I found the Major making grand preparations again. I
asked what it was for, and he said this was the Prince of Wales's birthday. It had to be celebrated that evening. We celebrated it. Much against my expectations, we had another splendid time. We kept it up till some time after midnight again. I was tired of soda, and so I changed off for lemonade. I drank several quarts. You may consider lemonade better for a steady drink than soda-water; but it isn't so. In the morning it had soured on my stomach. Biting anything was out of the question--it was equivalent to lockjaw. I was beginning to feel worn and sad too. Shortly after luncheon, I found the Major in the midst of some more preparations. He said this was the Princess Alice's birthday. I concealed my grief. "Who is the Princess Alice?" I asked. "Daughter of her Majesty the Queen," the Major said. I succumbed. That night we celebrated the Princess Alice's birthday. We kept it up as late as usual, and really I enjoyed it a good deal. But I could not stand lemonade. I drank a couple of kegs of ice-water. In the morning I had toothache, and cramps, and chilblains, and my teeth were on edge from the lemonade, and I was still pretty gassy, I found the inexorable Major at it again. "Who is this for?" I asked. "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh," he said. |
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