The Pursuit of the House-Boat - Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades, under the Leadership of Sherlock Holmes, Esq. by John Kendrick Bangs
page 63 of 127 (49%)
page 63 of 127 (49%)
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Cassandra to look forward, and Mrs. Lot to look aft--all of these
subordinated to a central committee of safety headed by Cleopatra and Calpurnia. The rest of us can then commit ourselves and our interests unreservedly to these ladies, and proceed to enjoy ourselves without thought of the morrow." "I second the motion," said Ophelia, "with the amendment that Madame RĂ©camier be appointed chair-lady of another subcommittee, on entertainment." The amendment was accepted, and the motion put. It was carried with an enthusiastic aye, and the organization was complete. The various committees retired to the several corners of the room to discuss their individual lines of action, when a shadow was observed to obscure the moonlight which had been streaming in through the window. The faces of Calpurnia and Cleopatra blanched for an instant, as, immediately following upon this apparition, a large bundle was hurled through the open port into the middle of the room, and the shadow vanished. "Is it a bomb?" cried several of the ladies at once. "Nonsense!" said Madame RĂ©camier, jumping lightly forward. "A man doesn't mind blowing a woman up, but he'll never blow himself up. We're safe enough in that respect. The thing looks to me like a bundle of illustrated papers." "That's what it is," said Cleopatra, who had been investigating. "It's rather a discourteous bit of courtesy, tossing them in through the window that way, I think, but I presume they mean well. Dear me," she added, as, |
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