. . And yet within a second or two I must lift my face
and make some answer. Her voice was already trailing off
plaintively. I heard her catch her breath--
And then--thank God--I heard a brisk, happy footstep in the outer
passage, and Jimmy burst into the room with his accustomed whoop.
"Ahoy, within! How goes it with Gulliver?" He broke off, staring,
and let out another joyous whoop, upon which chimed the merry rattle
of tea-things, as Jephson followed close on his heels with a tray.
"Eh? No--but it is! In the words of the Bard, What ho, Constantia!"
He threw his bright top-hat across the room, hooked his umbrella over
his left arm, and ran forward with both hands held out. "Oh, Con!
this is good! Give me a kiss, with Otty's leave--a real good nursery
kiss!"
"There!" agreed Constantia. "And now sit down and be a good boy.
Where's Lettice?"
"Shopping in Knightsbridge: and the nurse walking the infant up and
down, more or less parallel, just inside the Park, that he may watch
the wheels go round. . . . I broke away. Shouldn't be surprised if
Lettice taxi'd around here presently.
Pages:
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440