Sunrise by William Black
page 85 of 696 (12%)
page 85 of 696 (12%)
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"I must go over to the States very soon," Mr. Lind said.
"Papa!" "The worst of it is," her father said, without heeding that exclamation of protest, "that I have so much to do that can only be done by word of mouth." "I wish I could take the message for you," Brand said, lightly. "When the weather looks decent, I very often take a run across to New York, put up for a few days at the Brevoort House, and take the next ship home. It is very enjoyable, especially if you know the officers. Then the bagman--I have acquired a positive love for the bagman." "The what?" said Natalie. "The bagman. The 'commy' his friends call him. The commercial traveller, don't you know? He is a most capital fellow--full of life and fun, desperately facetious, delighting in practical jokes: altogether a wonderful creature. You begin to think you are in another generation--before England became melancholy--the generation, for example, that roared over the adventures of Tom and Jerry." Natalie did not know who Tom and Jerry were; but that was of little consequence; for at this moment they began to descry "the white chalk-line beyond the sea"--the white line of the English coast. And they went on chatting cheerfully; and the sunlight flashed its diamonds on the blue waters around them, and the white chalk cliffs became more distinct. |
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