21.03.2013 Views

Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

— 37 —<br />

little th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g. But even he grew strangely depressed after we had<br />

started, and so, when we reached Crewe, I asked him to come<br />

and have a dr<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>k. He accepted, and we forced our way <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to <strong>the</strong><br />

buffet, where we yelled, and stamped, and waved our umbrellas<br />

for a quarter of an hour; and <strong>the</strong>n a young lady came, and<br />

asked us if we wanted anyth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g.<br />

“What’s yours?” I said, turn<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to my friend.<br />

“I’ll have half-a-crown’s worth of brandy, neat, if you please,<br />

miss,” he resp<strong>on</strong>ded.<br />

And he went off quietly after he had drunk it and got <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r carriage, which I thought mean.<br />

From Crewe I had <strong>the</strong> compartment to myself, though <strong>the</strong><br />

tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> was crowded. As we drew up at <strong>the</strong> different stati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>the</strong><br />

people, see<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g my empty carriage, would rush for it. “Here y’<br />

are, Maria; come al<strong>on</strong>g, plenty of room.” “All right, Tom; we’ll<br />

get <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> here,” <strong>the</strong>y would shout. And <strong>the</strong>y would run al<strong>on</strong>g, carry<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />

heavy bags, and fight round <strong>the</strong> door to get <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> first. And<br />

<strong>on</strong>e would open <strong>the</strong> door and mount <strong>the</strong> steps, and stagger<br />

back <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to <strong>the</strong> arms of <strong>the</strong> man beh<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d him; and <strong>the</strong>y would<br />

all come and have a sniff, and <strong>the</strong>n droop off and squeeze <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r carriages, or pay <strong>the</strong> difference and go first.<br />

From Eust<strong>on</strong>, I took <strong>the</strong> cheeses down to my friend’s house.<br />

When his wife came <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to <strong>the</strong> room she smelt round for an <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stant.<br />

Then she said:<br />

“What is it? Tell me <strong>the</strong> worst.”<br />

I said:<br />

“It’s cheeses. Tom bought <strong>the</strong>m <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Liverpool, and asked me<br />

to br<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <strong>the</strong>m up with me.”<br />

And I added that I hoped she understood that it had noth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />

to do with me; and she said that she was sure of that, but<br />

that she would speak to Tom about it when he came back.<br />

My friend was deta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Liverpool l<strong>on</strong>ger than he expected;<br />

and, three days later, as he hadn’t returned home, his wife<br />

called <strong>on</strong> me. She said:<br />

“What did Tom say about those cheeses?”

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!