Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 28, 2025
The lamp in my carriage was too dim to permit of reading; I therefore wrapped myself in my rug and indulged in pleasant meditations. It was past midnight when I arrived at the station for Bingley Manor, where I found a gig awaiting me. A sharp drive of half an hour and I was at the mansion door. Dr McTougall was right.
"Ah! the firemen have a knack of doing that sort of thing," said I, speaking to Mrs McTougall, but looking at Lilly Blythe. "So I have heard. The brave, noble men," said Lilly, speaking to Mrs McTougall, but looking at me. I know not what we conversed about during the remainder of that hour. Whether I talked sense or nonsense I cannot tell.
"Any one who chooses to go and look at the five innocent faces when they are asleep," said I, laughing, "can see with a quarter of an eye that you and Mrs McTougall are to be congratulated on the nature of your little ones." "Of course we are, my dear fellow," returned the doctor with enthusiasm. "But to change the subject has little Slidder been here to-day?" "Not that I know of."
Gittin' all square, eh?" I repressed a smile with difficulty as I replied "It is much better, thank you. Attend to what Dr McTougall has to say to you." "Hall serene," he replied, looking with cool urbanity in the doctor's face, "fire away!" "You're a shoeblack, I see," said the doctor. "That's my purfession." "Do you like it?"
That evening, just after the gas was lighted, while I was lying on the sofa thinking of these things, and toying with Dumps's ears, the door opened and Mrs McTougall entered, with Miss Blythe leaning on her arm. It was the first time she had come down to the drawing-room since her illness.
If you don't, I'll tell Dr McTougall that you gave me an' the old lady a full, true, an' partikler account o' the whole affair, from the fust bustin' out o' the flames, an' the calling o' the ingines, to the last crash o' the fallin' roof, and the roastin' alive of the 'ousehold cat. I will, as sure as you're a six-foot flunkey!"
Mrs McTougall said something else, languidly, and Miss Blythe rose and held out her hand with a pleasant smile. "Well, if this isn't one of the very jolliest larks I ever had!" exclaimed Master Harry from his corner, between two enormous spoonfuls. "Hah!" exclaimed Master Jack. He could say no more. He was too busy!
I may mention that I occupied a comfortable room in the house of the "City man," who insisted on my staying with him until I should be quite able to walk to my lodgings. As Dr McTougall had taken my district, a brief note to Mrs Miff, my landlady, relieved my mind of all anxieties, professional and domestic, so that my doggie and I could enjoy ourselves as well as the swollen leg would permit.
In these circumstances, he added, Dr McTougall had agreed to visit my poor people for me until I should recover. "You see," continued the footman, "I only heard a little of their conversation. Dr McTougall was saying when I come into the room: `Well, Mr Mellon, he said, `you must of necessity remain where you are, and you could not, let me tell you, be in better quarters.
After a general "scrimmage," in which the five chips of the elder McTougall had joined, without regard to any concerted plan, Dolly suddenly shouted "'Top!" "What are we to stop for?" demanded Harry, whose powers of self-restraint were not strong. "Want a 'est!" said Dolly, sitting down on a stool with a resolute plump.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking