Viviette by William John Locke
page 50 of 119 (42%)
page 50 of 119 (42%)
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to be very carefully decanted. Did he remember the fuss his dear father
used to make about it? She was very glad there was no more left--for Dick would be sure to drink it and it would go to his head. "Or his toes!" cried Viviette. When Austin explained Viviette's meaning to his mother, who had not an allusive habit of mind, she acquiesced placidly. Port was not good for gouty people. Their poor father suffered severely. Austin listened to her reminiscences and turned the talk to the drive. It had been more like driving through Paradise with Pegasus harnessed to Venus's car than anything else. He must take his mother out and show her what a good judge of horseflesh was dear old Dick. "As she's my mare, perhaps I might have the privilege," said Dick. Austin cried out, in all good faith: "My dear old boy, is there anything especially mine or yours in this house?" Katherine, a keen observer, broke quickly into the talk. "There's Dick's armoury. That's his own particular and private domain. You're going to explain it all to me this afternoon, aren't you? You promised yesterday." She drew Dick into talk away from the others. The lecture on the armoury was fixed for three o'clock, when she would be free from the duty from which, during her stay at the Manor House, she had freed Viviette, of postprandial reading of the newspaper to Mrs. Ware. But her interest in his hobby for once failed to awaken his enthusiasm. The dull jealousy of |
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