Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome
page 85 of 247 (34%)
page 85 of 247 (34%)
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"This is what's happened to him," retorted the lady. She drew from her muff a copy of our last week's issue, with my article on hydrogen gas scored in pencil, and flung it before his eyes. Our chief took it and read it through. "He was 'Balloonist'?" queried the chief. "He was 'Balloonist,'" admitted the lady, "the poor innocent child, and now look at him!" "Maybe it'll grow again," suggested our chief. "Maybe it will," retorted the lady, her key continuing to rise, "and maybe it won't. What I want to know is what you are going to do for him." Our chief suggested a hair wash. I thought at first she was going to fly at him; but for the moment she confined herself to words. It appears she was not thinking of a hair wash, but of compensation. She also made observations on the general character of our paper, its utility, its claim to public support, the sense and wisdom of its contributors. "I really don't see that it is our fault," urged the chief--he was a mild- mannered man; "he asked for information, and he got it." "Don't you try to be funny about it," said the lady (he had not meant to be funny, I am sure; levity was not his failing) "or you'll get something that _you_ haven't asked for. Why, for two pins," said the lady, with a suddenness that sent us both flying like scuttled chickens behind our |
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