The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
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“Lie back quite comfortably, and d<strong>on</strong>’t worry,” said<br />
Jane Hubbard. “I’m going to my room to get a book to<br />
read you to sleep. I shan’t be five minutes. And forget<br />
about your mo<strong>the</strong>r. I’ll look after her.”<br />
Eustace closed his eyes. After all, this girl had fought<br />
li<strong>on</strong>s, tigers, pumas, cannibals, and alligators in her time<br />
with a good deal of success. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re might be a sporting<br />
chance of victory for her when she moved a step up in<br />
<strong>the</strong> animal kingdom and tackled his mo<strong>the</strong>r. He was<br />
not unduly optimistic, for he thought she was going<br />
out of her class; but he felt faintly hopeful. He allowed<br />
himself to drift into pleasant meditati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a scrambling sound outside <strong>the</strong> door. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
handle turned.<br />
“Hullo! Back already?” said Eustace, opening his eyes.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> next moment he opened <strong>the</strong>m wider. His mouth<br />
gaped slowly like a hole in a sliding cliff. Mrs. Horace<br />
Hignett was standing at his bedside.<br />
P. G. Wodehouse<br />
179<br />
3<br />
IN THE MOMENT which elapsed before ei<strong>the</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> two<br />
could calm <strong>the</strong>ir agitated brains to speech, Eustace became<br />
aware, as never before, of <strong>the</strong> truth of that wellknown<br />
line—“Peace, perfect peace, with loved <strong>on</strong>es far<br />
away.” <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was certainly little hope of peace with<br />
loved <strong>on</strong>es in his bedroom. Dully, he realised that in a<br />
few minutes Jane Hubbard would be returning with<br />
her book, but his imaginati<strong>on</strong> refused to envisage <strong>the</strong><br />
scene which would <strong>the</strong>n occur.<br />
“Eustace!”<br />
Mrs. Hignett gasped, hand <strong>on</strong> heart.<br />
“Eustace!” For <strong>the</strong> first time Mrs. Hignett seemed to<br />
become aware that it was a changed face that c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>ted<br />
hers. “Good gracious! How stout you’ve<br />
grown!”<br />
“It’s mumps.”<br />
“Mumps!”<br />
“Yes, I’ve got mumps.”