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The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield
page 65 of 225 (28%)
clapped to her cheek as though she had toothache. Hans's face was screwed
up in the effort to understand. Only Godber's man seemed to be enjoying
himself; it was his story.

"What's the matter? What's happened?"

"There's been a horrible accident," said Cook. "A man killed."

"A man killed! Where? How? When?"

But Godber's man wasn't going to have his story snatched from under his
very nose.

"Know those little cottages just below here, miss?" Know them? Of course,
she knew them. "Well, there's a young chap living there, name of Scott, a
carter. His horse shied at a traction-engine, corner of Hawke Street this
morning, and he was thrown out on the back of his head. Killed."

"Dead!" Laura stared at Godber's man.

"Dead when they picked him up," said Godber's man with relish. "They were
taking the body home as I come up here." And he said to the cook, "He's
left a wife and five little ones."

"Jose, come here." Laura caught hold of her sister's sleeve and dragged
her through the kitchen to the other side of the green baize door. There
she paused and leaned against it. "Jose!" she said, horrified, "however
are we going to stop everything?"

"Stop everything, Laura!" cried Jose in astonishment. "What do you mean?"
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