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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.”

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