|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 55
"Very proper!" said Hilda. "I am glad to find that you know your
ballads. What else will you do with it, for example?"
"Wi' ae lock o' thy yellow hair
I'll theek my nest when it grows bare!"
Gerald went on. "The excelsior is coming out of my mattress, and I
thought--"
"I can't spare enough for that," said Hildegarde. "Any other uses
for my poor hair?"
"The Mater has a single hair of George Washington's, done up in a
gold snuffbox," cried the boy. "If you'll give me two, I will hunt
up a snuffbox. There's a fine old stingo in the Chemical Works who
takes snuff, and I will get his, and give him a tomato can
instead, and keep one hair in that."
"And the other?" Hilda persisted, taking the long tresses in her
hand, and running them through her fingers in a tantalizing
manner,--"the other hair, Master Obadiah?"
"Oh, dear! what a persistent thing a girl is! I--must you really
know? Because you mightn't like it, if I told you the truth." The
ingenuous youth here turned a somersault, and coming up on one
knee, remained in an attitude of supplication, clasping his hands
imploringly. Hilda laughed, but still caressed her locks, unmoved.
"The other hair!" she said.
"Well, if you MUST know, I want to make a new kind of fly for the
bass. They aren't biting at all, and your hair is just the colour,
to a shade. There! that is the terewth. Do you mind?"
"Mind, you foolish boy? You might have had your fly made by this
time. Here, give me your knife!"
She stood still, and severed a long, fair tress, which she laid in
Gerald's hand.
"There! that will make a whole swarm of flies; and if there is any
left over, you can theek your nest with it."
At this moment she looked up and saw the Professor sitting on the
verandah, watching her. Her face lighted up with the brightest
smile, Roger thought, that he had ever seen, and she hastened
forward.
"Oh, Captain! I was afraid I was too late. Aren't you going to
take observations this morning? And mayn't I go too? Here is my
towel, all ready."
Gerald clapped his hand to his face, with an exclamation of acute
pain.
"My dear boy, what is the matter?" cried his mother and Hildegarde
in one breath.
"It is--nothing!" gasped the boy, sitting down on the edge of the
verandah. "Where is the glue?"
"The glue!" repeated Hilda.
"Le Page's glue! My nose has become disjointed, and I would fain
repair it. I am suffering excruciating torments; but don't mind
me. Go on your towelled and triumphant way, and leave the noseless
wretch to pine alone!"
"And make his flies!" said Hilda. "You miserable boy, you really
took me in. Good-by, dear madam; I will get Bell, and we will
surely be home in time for dinner this time. Won't we, Captain?"
But the Captain did not commit himself.
"Mater," said Gerald, watching the two as they walked away
together, "do you think--"
"Not often!" said his mother. "It is a dangerous occupation."
"True!" said Gerald. "Well, if I mustn't think, where is Phil?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|