FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   >>   >|  
, and I've been more than once sorely tempted to make an end of my difficulties with a razor or a few drops of prussic acid; but when I saw the dull gray streets and the square gray houses, and the empty market-place, and the Baptist chapel, and the Unitarian chapel, and the big stony church, and heard the dreary bells ding-donging for evening service, I wondered how I could ever have existed a week in such a place. I had rather sweep a crossing in London than occupy the best house in Barlingford, and I told Tom Halliday so." "And Tom is coming to London I understand by your letter." "Yes, he has sold Hyley, and wants to find a place in the west of England. The north doesn't suit his chest. He and Georgy are coming up to town for a few weeks, so I've asked them to stay here. I may as well make some use of the house, for it's very little good in a professional sense." "Humph!" muttered George; "I don't see your motive." "I have no particular motive. Tom's a good fellow, and his company will be better than an empty house. The visit won't cost me anything--Halliday is to go shares in the housekeeping." "Well, you may find it answer that way," replied Mr. Sheldon the younger, who considered that every action of a man's life ought to be made to "answer" in some way. "But I should think you would be rather bored by the arrangement: Tom's a very good fellow in his way, and a great friend of mine, but he's rather an empty-headed animal." The subject dropped here, and the brothers went on talking of Barlingford and Barlingford people--the few remaining kindred whose existence made a kind of link between the two men and their native town, and the boon companions of their early manhood. The dentist produced the remnant of a bottle of whisky from the sideboard, and rang for hot water and sugar, Wherewith to brew grog, for his own and his brother's refreshment; but the conversation flagged nevertheless. Philip Sheldon was dull and absent, answering his companion at random every now and then, much to that gentleman's aggravation; and he owned at last to being thoroughly tired and worn out. "The journey from Barlingford in a slow train is no joke, you know, George, and I couldn't afford the express," he said apologetically, when his brother upbraided him for his distraction of manner. "Then I should think you'd better go to bed," answered Mr. Sheldon the younger, who had smoked a couple of cigars, and consumed the cont
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Barlingford

 

Sheldon

 
coming
 

Halliday

 

London

 

brother

 

George

 

motive

 

fellow

 
younger

answer

 
chapel
 
produced
 
remnant
 
bottle
 

whisky

 

dentist

 

manhood

 

native

 

companions


sideboard

 

Wherewith

 

subject

 

dropped

 

brothers

 

animal

 

headed

 

arrangement

 
friend
 

talking


existence

 

people

 

remaining

 

kindred

 
refreshment
 
conversation
 

apologetically

 
upbraided
 
express
 

afford


couldn
 
distraction
 

manner

 

couple

 

cigars

 

consumed

 

smoked

 

answered

 

journey

 

companion