登陆注册
15455600000046

第46章 CHAPTER 15(2)

I waited by the back door, and when the Uncle was beginning to go Dicky was to drop a marble down between the banisters for a signal, so that I could run round and meet the Uncle as he came out.

This seems like deceit, but if you are a thoughtful and considerate boy you will understand that we could not go down and say to the Uncle in the hall under Father's eye, 'Father has given you a beastly, nasty dinner, but if you will come to dinner with us tomorrow, we will show you our idea of good things to eat.' You will see, if you think it over, that this would not have been at all polite to Father.

So when the Uncle left, Father saw him to the door and let him out, and then went back to the study, looking very sad, Dora says.

As the poor Indian came down our steps he saw me there at the gate.

I did not mind his being poor, and I said, 'Good evening, Uncle,' just as politely as though he had been about to ascend into one of the gilded chariots of the rich and affluent, instead of having to walk to the station a quarter of a mile in the mud, unless he had the money for a tram fare.

'Good evening, Uncle.' I said it again, for he stood staring at me. I don't suppose he was used to politeness from boys - some boys are anything but - especially to the Aged Poor.

So I said, 'Good evening, Uncle,' yet once again. Then he said -'Time you were in bed, young man. Eh! - what?'

Then I saw I must speak plainly with him, man to man. So I did.

I said -'You've been dining with my Father, and we couldn't help hearing you say the dinner was shocking. So we thought as you're an Indian, perhaps you're very poor' - I didn't like to tell him we had heard the dreadful truth from his own lips, so I went on, 'because of "Lo, the poor Indian" - you know - and you can't get a good dinner every day. And we are very sorry if you're poor; and won't you come and have dinner with us to-morrow - with us children, I mean? It's a very, very good dinner - rabbit, and hardbake, and coconut - and you needn't mind us knowing you re poor, because we know honourable poverty is no disgrace, and -' I could have gone on much longer, but he interrupted me to say -'Upon my word! And what's your name, eh?'

'Oswald Bastable,' I said; and I do hope you people who are reading this story have not guessed before that I was Oswald all the time.

'Oswald Bastable, eh? Bless my soul!' said the poor Indian. 'Yes, I'll dine with you, Mr Oswald Bastable, with all the pleasure in life. Very kind and cordial invitation, I'm sure. Good night, sir. At one o'clock, I presume?'

'Yes, at one,' I said. 'Good night, sir.'

Then I went in and told the others, and we wrote a paper and put it on the boy's dressing- table, and it said -'The poor Indian is coming at one. He seemed very grateful to me for my kindness.'

We did not tell Father that the Uncle was coming to dinner with us, for the polite reason that I have explained before. But we had to tell Eliza; so we said a friend was coming to dinner and we wanted everything very nice. I think she thought it was Albert-next-door, but she was in a good temper that day, and she agreed to cook the rabbit and to make a pudding with currants in it. And when one o'clock came the Indian Uncle came too. I let him in and helped him off with his greatcoat, which was all furry inside, and took him straight to the nursery. We were to have dinner there as usual, for we had decided from the first that he would enjoy himself more if he was not made a stranger of. We agreed to treat him as one of ourselves, because if we were too polite, he might think it was our pride because he was poor.

He shook hands with us all and asked our ages, and what schools we went to, and shook his head when we said we were having a holiday just now. I felt rather uncomfortable - I always do when they talk about schools - and I couldn't think of anything to say to show him we meant to treat him as one of ourselves. I did ask if he played cricket. He said he had not played lately. And then no one said anything till dinner came in. We had all washed our faces and hands and brushed our hair before he came in, and we all looked very nice, especially Oswald, who had had his hair cut that very morning. When Eliza had brought in the rabbit and gone out again, we looked at each other in silent despair, like in books. It seemed as if it were going to be just a dull dinner like the one the poor Indian had had the night before; only, of course, the things to eat would be nicer. Dicky kicked Oswald under the table to make him say something - and he had his new boots on, too! - but Oswald did not kick back; then the Uncle asked -'Do you carve, sir, or shall I?'

Suddenly Alice said -'Would you like grown-up dinner, Uncle, or play-dinner?'

He did not hesitate a moment, but said, 'Play-dinner, by all means.

Eh! - what?' and then we knew it was all right.

同类推荐
  • 玉照新志

    玉照新志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • thais

    thais

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 旧京遗事

    旧京遗事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 银色女经

    银色女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太子和休经

    太子和休经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 总裁的首席萌妻:诱拐七日

    总裁的首席萌妻:诱拐七日

    “易先生,要怎样形容你和荏苒小姐的关系?”易世微笑看着摄像机:“我的一世繁华只为她的一生荏苒。”
  • 绎仙传

    绎仙传

    生于不毛地,长于乱世之秋,偶遇修仙机缘,踏上成仙之路,历尽沧桑,灭旧仙庭创新庭,改仙界秩序,掌仙界大权。
  • 天官诡印

    天官诡印

    世人只知摸金校尉,却不知统领摸金的为发丘中郎将。而我,则是世间最后一名发丘中郎将,人称发丘天官。――天官赐福,百无禁忌!
  • 龙脉守护者

    龙脉守护者

    这个刚刚进入新生代的世界需要一些能够给她带来安全的战士!“所以你就找上我们了?”————某身残志坚的改造人“我还想喝着可乐看电视呢,百事可乐”————某百事可乐狂热者异界人“额,有没有工资?”————某金钱至上的暗杀者“我倒是不介意,只要可以打架”————某脑袋里全是肌肉的战斗狂“林在哪我就在哪”————某大叔(老怪物)控的萝莉兽耳娘“那么我来当队长”————某活了上百岁的嗜血老怪物龙脉守护者,在此集结!话说为什么听上去像是复仇者呢……
  • 绝情公主:复仇死亡曲

    绝情公主:复仇死亡曲

    【本文已弃】【本文已弃】【本文已弃】实在是没有时间,因为关于择校,所以没办法。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 南词叙录

    南词叙录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 落弦歌

    落弦歌

    此情无计可消除,才下眉头,却上心头。沫离莫离,但此不分别,但此梦长醉,人生亦不如。
  • 樱花,一生之约

    樱花,一生之约

    那一年,是她一生中最难以忘怀的一年;那一月,是她最喜欢的樱花盛开季节;那一天,她得到的却是离去......
  • 走过城里城外

    走过城里城外

    姚小遥继被订婚之后,又被离婚了,只是这一次闹得比较大,在法庭上被羞辱的一幕,一直激励着姚小遥不断成长,如今有了美满的生活,和令人羡慕的爱人,结果前夫又阴魂不散的找来了,原来是因为。。。。。。已完本作品《燕京纪事》、《庶女凤华》、《书香》,坑品有保障,新书上传,诸位多多捧场,撒花!