登陆注册
15515000000059

第59章 CHAPTER XX. THE DEPARTING GUEST(1)

By the time Penrod returned from chasing Duke to the next corner, Verman had the long, black snake down from the rafter where its active head had taken refuge, with the rest of it dangling; and both boys agreed that Mrs. Williams's cat must certainly be able to "see SOME, anyway", through the meshes of the stocking.

"Well," said Penrod, "it's gettin' pretty near dark, what with all this bother and mess we been havin' around here, and I expeck as soon as I get this good ole broom-handle fixed out of the rake for you, Verman, it'll be about time to begin what we had to go and take all this trouble FOR."

. . . . Mr. Schofield had brought an old friend home to dinner with him: "Dear old Joe Gilling," he called this friend when introducing him to Mrs. Schofield. Mr. Gilling, as Mrs. Schofield was already informed by telephone, had just happened to turn up in town that day, and had called on his classmate at the latter's office. The two had not seen each other in eighteen years.

Mr. Gilling was a tall man, clad highly in the mode, and brought to a polished and powdered finish by barber and manicurist; but his colour was peculiar, being almost unhumanly florid, and, as Mrs. Schofield afterward claimed to have noticed, his eyes "wore a nervous, apprehensive look", his hands were tremulous, and his manner was "queer and jerky"--at least, that is how she defined it.

She was not surprised to hear him state that he was travelling for his health and not upon business. He had not been really well for several years, he said.

At that, Mr. Schofield laughed and slapped him heartily on the back.

"Oh, mercy!" Mr. Gilling cried, leaping in his chair. "What IS the matter?"

"Nothing!" Mr. Schofield laughed. "I just slapped you the way we used to slap each other on the campus. What I was going to say was that you have no business being a bachelor. With all your money, and nothing to do but travel and sit around hotels and clubs, no wonder you've grown bilious."

"Oh, no; I'm not bilious," Mr. Gilling said uncomfortably. "I'm not bilious at all."

"You ought to get married," Mr. Schofield returned. "You ought--"

He paused, for Mr. Gilling had jumped again. "What's the trouble, Joe?"

"Nothing. I thought perhaps--perhaps you were going to slap me on the back again."

"Not this time," Mr. Schofield said, renewing his laughter.

"Well, is dinner about ready?" he asked, turning to his wife.

"Where are Margaret and Penrod?"

"Margaret's just come in," Mrs. Schofield answered. "She'll be down in a minute, and Penrod's around somewhere."

"Penrod?" Mr. Gilling repeated curiously, in his nervous, serious way. "What is Penrod?"

And at this, Mrs. Schofield joined in her husband's laughter. Mr. Schofield explained.

"Penrod's our young son," he said. "He's not much for looks, maybe; but he's been pretty good lately, and sometimes we're almost inclined to be proud of him. You'll see him in a minute, old Joe!"

Old Joe saw him even sooner. Instantly, as Mr. Schofield finished his little prediction, the most shocking uproar ever heard in that house burst forth in the kitchen. Distinctly Irish shrieks unlimited came from that quarter--together with the clashing of hurled metal and tin, the appealing sound of breaking china, and the hysterical barking of a dog.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 极狼

    极狼

    没有人知道极地的由来,同样没有人知道极地确切的位置。极地给予濒死的人重生,不断赋予他们生与死的磨砺,情与义的抉择。谎言与背叛都将是人们最真实人性的体现。“生命诞生之初是如此的瑰丽玲珑,却不及它凋零后的余晖般璀璨。”
  • 西北汉子北京妞

    西北汉子北京妞

    小说主要描写西北青年张大发在北京从一名普通的小学教辅图书销售人员成长为上市公司图书销售经理的励志故事!他不甘平庸,他勇于进取,他爱憎分明.......他与身为董事长秘书的北京女孩童晓从陌生到相知相爱,但是这段办公室恋情却遭遇了重重的阻力……他们在企业文化的熏陶下,在董事长人格魅力的影响下,实现了从平凡到优秀再到卓越!是什么成就了西北汉子立志向上的动力?又是什么成就了北京女孩的心奋起飞扬?小说中将带给你答案!
  • 邪王至宠小妖妃

    邪王至宠小妖妃

    圣天大陆每三百年会发生一场巨大的兽潮,而能够拯救百姓的只有天赐的神女。君汐悦不喜欢苍天降大任于她,她也不喜欢苦其心志,不喜欢劳其筋骨,不喜欢饿其体肤。可是君汐悦作为一个二十一世纪的女杀手深谙做事情不是全凭心情,于是只好极不情愿的接受了这个大任!南宫二少最喜欢干什么?当然是调戏君汐悦,恶趣味的他喜欢看着君汐悦一脸无可奈何的小模样。在外人眼里傻里傻气的南宫毓卿真的是一个草包?“你能不能温柔点!”这是君汐悦在怒吼了。“哦,我的小娘子,当然可以。”这是南宫毓卿嘴上答应却不干人事了。!看我们新一代女神是如何拿下腹黑少爷,甘心拜倒在她的石榴裙下
  • 夜雾子时

    夜雾子时

    黎明前的黑暗最静谧,色彩也是最浓郁,只是身处深夜的你,等待的是否是光明
  • 爱在落日下

    爱在落日下

    每个人都会幻想,这是个幻想小说
  • 我从百蛮来

    我从百蛮来

    这方世界有五仙,分别为:鬼道魂仙,神道念仙,六道人仙,地府阳仙,天庭道仙。重活两世的穿越来客,誓要看看那道仙以上的风景。
  • 洪荒之血道冥河

    洪荒之血道冥河

    鲜血流尽,本以为是生命终结,然而,被命运石板选中,古泽穿越混沌,成为魔神,以血立道,成就至强!开天是劫,在洪荒活出第三世,则...我为冥河!无量劫来时,吾必以血漫三界,屠苍天,戮仇寇!凡阻我道者,必杀之!!血海不枯,冥河不死!!
  • 道士闯天下

    道士闯天下

    一位叫秦羽的小道士命煞孤星,年过18后,他下山去闯天下,降服各种鬼和妖怪,被各种美女所爱着。
  • 倾城神医:妖孽狐狸清狂妃

    倾城神医:妖孽狐狸清狂妃

    娱乐圈最闪耀的一颗新星,被称作全能女神的叶北汐在拍戏时被人设计,坠崖身亡。异世界最废柴的一个瞎子,被称作北夜郡主的叶北汐在看病时被人下毒,香消玉殒。当她再次醒来,懦弱不再。有着神医之称的她,几针下去,剧毒尽数排出,便重见光明。却发现自己七系灵根傍身,身世成迷。天赋异禀,医术无双。左有朱雀小萝莉,右有饕餮小心机。前有哥哥遮风挡雨,后有伙伴天下无敌。结果,她竟然着了一只狐狸的道!好吧,她承认这只绝色妖孽的狐狸很好,但是……这么吃她豆腐是几个意思?外表这么清纯绝世的人怎么可以这么无耻?最后,当她知道了自己来到这个世界并非偶然时,她又该如何选择?
  • EXO之少女的心

    EXO之少女的心

    他们十二个是死党,可是当她出现后,十二个死党变得越来越仇视彼此,她是天使?还是恶魔?