The Golden Age by Kenneth Grahame
page 19 of 137 (13%)
page 19 of 137 (13%)
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had seen the porter kissing our housemaid, and what a nice fellow
he was, with no airs, or affectation about him, and anything I thought would be of interest.; but he didn't seem to pay much attention, but walked along puffing his cigar, and once I thought--I'm not certain, but I THOUGHT--I heard him say, `Well, thank God, that's over!' When we got to the station he stopped suddenly, and said, `Hold on a minute!' Then he shoved these into my hand in a frightened sort of way; and said, `Look here, youngster! These are for you and the other kids. Buy what you like--make little beasts of yourselves--only don't tell the old people, mind! Now cut away home!' So I cut." A solemn hush fell on the assembly, broken first by the small Charlotte. "I didn't know," she observed dreamily, "that there were such good men anywhere in the world. I hope he'll die to- night, for then he'll go straight to heaven!" But the repentant Selina bewailed herself with tears and sobs, refusing to be comforted; for that in her haste she had called this white-souled relative a beast. "I'll tell you what we'll do," said Edward, the master-mind, rising--as he always did--to the situation: "We'll christen the piebald pig after him--the one that hasn't got a name yet. And that'll show we're sorry for our mistake!" "I--I christened that pig this morning," Harold guiltily confessed; "I christened it after the curate. I'm very sorry-- but he came and bow'ed to me last night, after you others had all been sent to bed early--and somehow I felt I HAD to do it!" |
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