United States or British Indian Ocean Territory ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Oh don't, oh don't!" said Lady Helen, leaning back exhausted. But Mike went on, though he was hardly able to speak, and told how Muchross and Snowdown had danced the can-can, kicking at the chandelier from time to time, the sweeps keeping time with their implements on the sideboard; the revel finishing up with a wrestling match, Muchross taking the big sweep, and Snowdown the little one.
Muchross cut the sirloin, filling the plates so full of juicy meat that the ladies protested. Snowdown paid for champagne, and in conjunction with the wine, the indelicate stories which he narrated made some small invasion upon the reserve of the bar-girls; for their admirers did not dare forbid them the wine, and could not prevent them from smiling.
Suddenly awaking to a sense of his responsibility Muchross roared "What about the milk-cans?" "You'd better be quick," answered Jem, "we shall be there in five minutes." One of the customs of the road was a half-crown lottery, the winning member to be decided by the number of milk-cans outside a certain farm-house. "Ease off a bit, Jem," bawled Muchross.
A lady leaves him four thousand a year, and he comes down here and rooks us." The coach swept up a gentle ascent, and Muchross shouted "Two milk-cans! Hand him over the quid and chuck him out!"
After lunch the gang was photographed in the garden, and Muchross gave the village flautist half a "quid," making him promise to drink their healths till he was "blind." "I never like to leave a place without having done some good," he shouted, as he scrambled into his seat. This sentiment was applauded until the sensual torpor of digestion intervened.
"Talking of mouths," said Mike, as they pulled up to change horses, "we had to start without breakfast. I wonder if one could get a biscuit and a glass of milk." "Glass of milk!" screamed Muchross, "no milk allowed on this coach." "Well, I don't think I could drink a brandy-and-soda at this time in the morning." "At what time could you drink one then? Why, it is nearly eleven o'clock!
The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Muchross with several lords, and he was with difficulty dissuaded from an attempt to swarm up the columns of the wonderful bed. The room was full of young girls and barristers gathered from the various courts. Some had stopped before the great Christ.
"Awful bad head, a heavy day yesterday," said Dicky "drunk blind." "Had to put him in a wheelbarrow, wheeled him into a greengrocer's shop, put a carrot in his mouth, and rang the bell," shouted Muchross. "Ha, ha, ha!" shouted the others. "Had a rippin' day all the same, didn't we, old Dicky? Went up the river in Snowdown's launch. Had lunch by Tag's Island, went as far as Datchet.
He noticed, however, that he hardly knew a single face, and was unacquainted with the amours of any of the women. He inquired for his friends. Muchross was not expected to live, Laura was underground, and her sister was in America. Joining in the general hilarity, he learnt that as the singer declined the prize-fighter was going up in popular estimation.
Seven hours had elapsed since he had parted from Lily Young, and these seven hours he had spent in restaurants and music-halls, seeking in dissipation surcease of sorrow and disappointment. He had dined at Lubi's, and had gone on with Lord Muchross and Lord Snowdown to the Royal, and they had returned in many hansoms and with many courtesans to drink at Lubi's.
Word Of The Day