United States or Cocos Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
A loud merry boyish laugh sounded from the shrubbery behind him. Then Lady Richard came out, attended by young Fred Wentworth, son of that John whose name had been put in when the Dean's was scratched out owing to a suspicion of whimsy-whamsies.
"Oh, one of his whimsy-whamsies, I suppose. He says the non-commissioned officers are the backbone of the Army, and he prefers to be part of the backbone. You remember Ninian Graham, father?" "I do, rightly!..." "He's come home to join. He's in the Engineers!" Mr. Quinn did not make any answer to Henry.
The expression was different; the man who was now so much in her thoughts, Weston Marchmont, would not have denounced whimsy-whamsies. He would have claimed an open mind and protested that he was ready to entertain every notion on its merits. But temper and taste led to the same end as ignorance and simplicity; the philosopher and the housewife met on a common ground of disapproval and disdain.
"Now is the Church to swallow the State, or the other way round, or are they to swallow one another, or what?" "Such a fine day too!" observed Mrs. Baxter. Morewood burst into a laugh. "To waste it on whimsy-whamsies!" cried May, joining in his mirth.
"How much better than working his head!" "And he'll be a bishop at least." "Is there anything worse?" growled Morewood disconsolately. Mrs. Baxter never became angry with him; she turned a fresh side of the petticoat, smiled sedately, and went on with her work. "We had whimsy-whamsies last night, hadn't we?" asked May. "I went to bed," said Morewood.
Morewood raised himself to a sitting posture and observed solemnly, "The whole history of science, art, and literature contradicts that last observation." Mrs. Baxter looked at him for a brief moment and went on with the petticoat. May interpreted her look. "So much the worse for the whole history!" she laughed. But a moment later she went on, "I think I rather like whimsy-whamsies, though."
Barbot relates that the Mpongwe of olden time demanded his "dassy" before he consented to "liquor up," and boldly asked, "If he was expected to drink gratis?" The impertinence was humoured, otherwise not an ivory would have found its way to the factory. But the traveller is not bound to endure these whimsy-whamsies; and the sooner he declares his independence the better.
Mrs. Baxter kept her house and made petticoats. Marchmont read his books, mixed with his world, and did his share in his obvious duty of governing the country. Misty dreams, great cloudy visions, vague ideals, were forsworn of both; they were all whimsy-whamsies, the hardly excusable occupation of an idle day in the country. Was such a coincidence of opinion conclusive? Perhaps.
"Not enough to stop enjoying one's self about, or to take any risks for." "I disbelieve you with my whole heart and soul; and, what's more, you don't believe yourself," she said. "To take risks is what we were given life for, I believe." "Whimsy-whamsies!" he jeered, jerking his thumb warningly towards Mrs. Baxter.
Any of these three seemed enough to exclude that painful reaching out to dim unlikely possibilities which must in her mind henceforward be nicknamed whimsy-whamsies. But to May's temper the question about life came up again. She swayed between the opposing sides, as she had swayed between yes and no when Marchmont challenged her with his love.
Word Of The Day