FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126  
127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   >>  
went off together to play a game at billiards; but after half a dozen strokes Charlie plumped down in a chair. "I say, Calder, old chap, how do you feel?" he asked. Calder licked his cigar meditatively. "Better," said he at last. "Oh!" "And you?" "Worse--worse every day. I can't stand it, old chap. I shall go back." "What, to her?" "Yes." "That's hardly sticking to our bargain, you know." "But, hang it, what's the good of our both cutting her?" "Oh, I thought you did it because you were disgusted with her. That was my reason." "So it was mine, but---" "Probably she's got some other fellow by now," observed Calder calmly. "The devil!" cried Charlie. "What makes you think so?" "Oh, nothing. I know her way, you see." "You think she's that sort of girl? Good heavens!" "Well, if she wasn't, I'd like to know where you'd be, my friend. I shouldn't have the honor of your acquaintance." Charlie ignored this point. "And yet you wanted, to marry her?" "I dare say I was an ass--like better men before me and--er--since me." "Hang it!" cried Charlie. "I'm sick of the whole thing. I'm sick of life. I'm sick of all the nonsense of it. For two straws I'd have done with it, and marry Millie Bushell." "What! Look here, Charlie--" Calder left his sentence unfinished. "Well?" said Charlie. "If," said Calder slowly, "there are any girls, either down here or in London, whom you're quite sure you'll never want to marry, I should like to be introduced to one of 'em, Charlie, if you've no objections." "What do you mean?" "Why, in fact, during this last week, Charlie, I have come to have a great esteem for Miss Bushell. There's about her a something--a solidity---" "She can't help that, poor girl." "A solidity of mind," said Calder, a little stiffly. "Oh, I beg pardon. But I say, Calder, what are you driving at?" "Charlie! Charlie!" sounded from outside. "Tea's ready." Calder rose and took Charlie by the arm. "Should I be safe," he asked solemnly, "in allowing myself to fall in love with Miss Bushell, or are you likely to step in again?" "You mean it? Honor bright, Calder?" "Yes." "Where's Bradshaw? By Jove, where's Bradshaw?" "Bradshaw? What the devil has Bradshaw----?" "Why, a train, man--a train to town." "I don't want to go to town, bless the man---" "You! No, but I do. To town, Calder--to Agatha, you old fool." "Oh, that's your lay?" "Yes, of
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126  
127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   >>  



Top keywords:
Charlie
 

Calder

 

Bradshaw

 

Bushell

 

solidity

 
objections
 
Agatha
 

billiards

 
esteem

London

 

strokes

 

plumped

 
introduced
 

solemnly

 
allowing
 

bright

 
Should
 
stiffly

pardon

 

driving

 

sounded

 

observed

 

calmly

 

heavens

 

fellow

 

thought

 

cutting


bargain

 

disgusted

 

sticking

 

Probably

 
reason
 

Better

 

meditatively

 

nonsense

 
straws

sentence

 
unfinished
 

Millie

 
acquaintance
 
friend
 

shouldn

 
wanted
 
licked
 

slowly