The Great Secret by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
page 29 of 337 (08%)
page 29 of 337 (08%)
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"In some respects," he admitted, "it is regrettable. Yet you must
remember that you are practically the head of the family. I have the title, but you have the estates and the money. You should find plenty to do!" I nodded. "Naturally! That isn't exactly what I meant, though. Here we are, and by Jove, I'm late!" My cousin cared for cricket no more than for any other sports, but because he represented Medchestershire, he made a point of coming to see his County play. He took up a prominent position in the pavilion enclosure, and requested me to inform the local reporters, who had come up from Medchester, of his presence. I changed into my flannels quickly, and was just in time to go out into the field with the rest of the team. The morning's cricket was not particularly exciting, and I had hard work to keep my thoughts fixed upon the game. Our bowling was knocked about rather severely, but wickets fell with reasonable frequency. It was just before luncheon time that the most surprising event of the day happened to me. The captain of the M.C.C., who had just made his fifty, drove a full pitch hard towards the boundary on the edge of which I was fielding. By fast sprinting, and a lot of luck, I brought off the catch, and, amidst the applause from the pavilion within a few feet of me, I heard my cousin's somewhat patronizing congratulations:-- "Fine catch, Jim! Very fine catch indeed!" I glanced round, and stood for a moment upon the cinder-path as though |
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