The Dark House by I. A. R. (Ida Alexa Ross) Wylie
page 278 of 351 (79%)
page 278 of 351 (79%)
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blown in upon her by a sudden wind. "Now I remember too. Ze good
Moretti. She ride old Arabesque. 'E 'ave white spots all over 'im--on 'is chest and what you call 'is paws, and every evening she 'ave to paint 'im like she paint 'er face. Madame Moretti--that was a good sort--_bonne enfant_--what you say?--domestic--not really of ze Circus at all. She like to wash up and cook leetle _bonnes-bouches_ for supper. She was a German--Fredechen we call 'er--and she could make Sauerkraut--_eh bien_, I--_moi qui vous parle_--_une bonne Francaise_--I make myself sick with 'er Sauerkraut. Afterwards she grow too stout and marry ze _proprietaire_ of what you call it?--a public-'ouse--'Ze Crown and Garter' at some town where we stop a week. By now, I think she 'ave many children and a chin for each." Cosgrave laughed noisily. "Didn't I tell you, Robert? A barmaid!" "Yes--you had better taste." But he was hot with anger. "And then you came at her heels, Mademoiselle. You rode--what was it--a donkey, a fat pony? I forget which. Perhaps I was thinking too much of Madame Moretti. But I remember you were dressed as a page and wore coloured tights that didn't fit very well, and that everybody laughed because of your thin long legs. And you threw kisses to us--even Cosgrave got one, didn't you, Cosgrave? And then I'm afraid I forgot you altogether. You see, there were camels and elephants and a legless Wonder and I don't know what, and it was my first circus." "It must 'ave been a donkey," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I 'ave ridden so many donkeys." |
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