Oh! no, I'm better off in town, and I wish to
goodness that this holiday nuisance would be stopped."
"There are plenty of people who say that there aren't half enough
holidays these days when everybody has to work so hard," said the old
woman in a conciliatory tone. "But is there anything else you wish,
sir? My sister and I are making an excursion by steamer, and we shan't
be back until ten o'clock to-night."
"I hope you'll enjoy yourselves, Miss Augusta. I want nothing, and am
quite able to look after myself. The caretaker can do my room when I
have gone out."
Miss Augusta left him alone with his breakfast. When he had eaten it,
he lit a cigar and remained in bed with his _Egyptian Warfare_. The
open window shook softly in the southern breeze. At eight o'clock the
bells, large and small, of the nearest church began to ring, and those
of the other churches of Stockholm, St. Catherine's, St. Mary's and
St. Jacob's, joined in; they tinkled and jingled, enough to make a
heathen tear his hair in despair. When the church bells stopped, a
military band on the bridge of a steamer began to play a set of
quadrilles from _The Weak Point_. The schoolmaster writhed between his
sheets, and would have got out of bed and shut the window if it had
not been so hot.
Pages:
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99