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Updated: May 3, 2025
"Be natural, please," said I. "It will have a good effect, considering the scenery." "Is Madame Caterna to come to the wedding?" "Why not as bridesmaid!" In all that concerns the traditional functions we must have no difficulties on the Grand Transasiatic. It is too late for the ceremony to take place to-day. Ephrinell understood that certain conventionalities must be complied with.
"I'm fond of my wethers ers ers," says Monsieur Caterna, in any number of baritones. It is the everlasting duet between Pipo and Bettina; and they are rehearsing for Shanghai. Happy Shanghai! They do not yet know the Mascotte! Ephrinell and Miss Bluett are talking away with unusual animation, and I catch the end of the dialogue. "I am afraid," said she, "that hair will be rising in Pekin "
Did the Chinaman speak the language of Boccaccio? The Twentieth Century ought to know, and it would know. Madame Caterna arose, very pale, and Monsieur Caterna, a model husband, followed her on deck. The dinner over, leaving Ephrinell and Miss Bluett to talk of brokerages and prices current, I went for a stroll on the poop of the Astara. Night had nearly closed in.
There the Russian cookery will give place to the Chinese, and although the name does not recall the nectar and ambrosia of Olympus, it is probable that we shall not lose by the change. Ephrinell is in his usual place. Without going as far as familiarity, it is obvious that a close intimacy, founded on a similarity in tastes and aptitudes exists between Miss Horatia Bluett and the Yankee.
And at this reply the idea recurred to me that Ephrinell would not be quite the traveling companion I had dreamed of. He had goods to sell, I had none to buy. I foresaw that our meeting would not lead to a sufficient intimacy during our long journey.
Major Noltitz, Caterna, Pan-Chao, Ephrinell, driver and stoker, passengers, Asiatic and European, all resolve to fight for the common safety. On the right of the line, about a hundred yards away, stretches a deep, gloomy thicket, a sort of jungle, in which doubtless are hidden the robbers, awaiting the signal to pounce upon us.
The Reverend Nathaniel Morse, in announcing that the marriage will take place at nine o'clock, presents the compliments of Mr. Ephrinell and Miss Bluett. Major Noltitz and I, Caterna and Pan-Chao are under arms at the time stated. Caterna did not think it his duty to resume his costume, nor did his wife.
"But that is a good deal for you!" whispered Caterna in my ear. The marriage for a moment was in check for five per cent.! But all is arranged. The interests of the two houses have been safeguarded. The Reverend Nathaniel Morse repeats the question. A dry "yes" from Horatia Bluett, a short "yes" from Fulk Ephrinell, and the two are declared to be united in the bonds of matrimony.
The case slips from his shoulders, falls luckily over the rail of the Astara breaks in two, and a quantity of little packets of paper scatter their contents on the deck. What a shout of indignation did Ephrinell raise! What a whack with his fist did he administer to the unfortunate porter as he repeated in a voice of despair: "My teeth, my poor teeth!"
Ephrinell, who thought no more of his marriage than if he had never thought about it, devoted strict attention to business. Pan-Chao was second to nobody, and even Doctor Tio-King strove to make himself useful in the fashion of the celebrated Auguste, the fly on the chariot wheel. "It is hot, this Gobi sun!" said Caterna.
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