Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 13, 2025
And so fuming, he crossed the threshold of the bookshop, and, unwitting, heedless, left for ever behind him the first period of his history. "Programme of the Royal Procession," a man was shouting "Coloured 'Andkerchief with Programme of Royal Procession " Peter, stepping into the dark shop, was conscious of Mr. Zanti's white face and that behind him was standing Stephen.
The connection was there somewhere but many things must have happened between those years. "Shall we go and have luncheon together?" Peter asked. Stephen appeared to fling a troubled look in the direction of Mr. Zanti's broad back. He hesitated. "Well," he said awkwardly, "I don't rightly know. I've got to be going out for an hour or two I can't rightly say as I'll be back. This afternoon, maybe "
Zanti's fat, jolly body, his laugh, his huge soft hands ... Peter could not do more to this gentleman than remember that he meant so much that he would be overwhelmed by him if he did not leave him alone. So he darted in and gave his message and darted out again. The little street was shining in the sun and the gentlest waves were lapping the wooden jetty Oh, this dear town!
The band in Oxford Street was blazing with sound but it did not hide her crying. Mr. Zanti crossed to her and spoke to her but she suddenly let her hands fall from her face and turned upon him, furiously, wildly "You ..." she said, "You ..." and then as though the words choked her she turned back into the inner room. Peter saw Mr. Zanti's face and it was puckered with distress like a child's.
It was such a long time now since any one had shown any interest in him or expressed any pleasure at the sight of him that he was foolishly moved by Mr. Zanti's warmth. He blushed and stammered something but his eyes were shining and his lip trembling. Mr. Zanti fixed his gaze on the boy. "Oh! but you have grown yes, indeed.
During the three days that followed Peter learnt a very great deal about the bookshop. At night he still slept in Mr. Zanti's bedroom, but it was only a temporary pitching of tents during these days whilst he was a stranger and baffled by the noise and confusion. Already his immediate surroundings had ceased to be a mystery.
Zanti's hair and pulled down his head towards the chair, intense satisfaction flooding his face as he did so. The baby seemed, for a moment, to whisper into Mr. Zanti's ear, then, chuckling it climbed down from the chair, and, on all fours, crawled, its eyes and mouth suddenly serious as though it were conscious that it was engaged upon a very desperate adventure. The three men watched it.
He let himself go and was pulled back sprawling upon the floor, his huge body stretching from end to end of the rug. Then, almost before they had realised it, the other two men were down upon their knees. The ball was picked up and tossed from hand to hand, the baby, sitting upon Mr. Zanti's stomach, watched with delight these extraordinary events.
He, Peter, had had success, love, position, comfort the Gods had poured everything into his hands and now, to his amazement as he sat there, in the little room opposite his huge fantastic friend he was almost regretting all those glorious things that had come to him and was wishing himself back in the dark little bookshop dark, but lighted with the fire of Mr. Zanti's amazing adventures.
They came when Herr Gottfried was out and I wanted I want dreadfully to hear about him if you could tell me " For an instant Mr. Zanti's large eyes closed until they seemed to be no larger than pin-points then they opened again. "Stephen Stephen? Stephen what? What is it that the boy talks of?" "You know Stephen Brant the man who first brought me to see you when I was quite a kid.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking