登陆注册
15697300000024

第24章 A FAMILY PLOT.(2)

As the door slammed Ida burst into a shout of laughter. "You see, Clara," she cried, "the charm works already. He has gone to number one instead of to number three. Oh, we shall win a great victory. You've been very good, dear; I could see that you were on thorns to help him when he was looking for his boots.""Poor papa!It is so cruel.And yet what are we to do?""Oh, he will enjoy being comfortable all the more if we give him a little discomfort now. What horrible work this chemistry is! Look at my frock! It is ruined. And this dreadful smell!" She threw open the window, and thrust her little golden-curled head out of it. Charles Westmacott was hoeing at the other side of the garden fence.

"Good morning, sir," said Ida.

"Good morning!"The big man leaned upon his hoe and looked up ather.

"Have you any cigarettes, Charles?" "Yes, certainly.""Throw me up two."

"Here is my case.Can you catch!"

A seal-skin case came with a soft thud on to the floor.Ida opened it.

It was full.

"What are these?" she asked. "Egyptians."

"What are some other brands?"

"Oh, Richmond Gems, and Turkish, and Cambridge.But why?" "Never mind!"She nodded to him and closed the window."Wemust remember all those, Clara," said she. "We must learn to talk about such things. Mrs. Westmacott knows all about the brands of cigarettes. Has your rum come?""Yes, dear.It is here."

"And I have my stout. Come along up to my room now. This smell is too abominable. But we must be ready for him when he comes back. If we sit at the window we shall see him coming down the road."The fresh morning air, and the genial company of the Admiral had caused the Doctor to forget his troubles, and he came back about midday in an excellent humor. As he opened the hall door the vile smell of chemicals which had spoilt his breakfast met him with a redoubled virulence. He threw open the hall window, entered the dining-room, and stood aghast at the sight which met his eyes.

Ida was still sitting among her bottles, with a lit cigarette in her lefthand and a glass of stout on the table beside her. Clara, with another cigarette, was lounging in the easy chair with several maps spread out upon the floor around. Her feet were stuck up on the coal scuttle, and she had a tumblerful of some reddish-brown composition on the smoking table close at her elbow. The Doctor gazed from one to the other of them through the thin grey haze of smoke, but his eyes rested finally in a settled stare of astonishment upon his elder and more serious daughter.

"Clara!" he gasped, "I could not have believed it!" "What is it, papa?""You are smoking!"

"Trying to, papa.I find it a little difficult, for I have not been used toit."

"But why, in the name of goodness--" "Mrs. Westmacott recommends it.""Oh, a lady of mature years may do many things which a young girlmust avoid."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 花都邪医

    花都邪医

    药王岛弟子下山,原是要救人中途却是香运连连,无意间还卷入各种无端的争斗之中,顺藤摸瓜却见阴谋越来越深,且看他如何靠一己之力保家卫国,拯救苍生!
  • 爱错了时光

    爱错了时光

    简介“到底应该和自己爱的人还是爱自己的人在一起”这或许是所有人都困惑的问题。三年前的林清染毫不犹豫地选择自己爱的人,在她看来,没有感情的婚姻不会幸福。于是,她对箫祁展开了疯狂的追求,但,生死存亡的那一刻,却换来他冷漠的背影。是,她醒了,一段永远没有结果的单恋何必执着下去,于是她走出他的世界,他却感觉失去了什么最珍贵的东西。三年后,她华丽回归,他却死缠烂打,撒娇卖萌打滚求收留!她嗤笑一声:“你好歹是拥有上亿身价的箫氏集团的总裁,何须我收留。”
  • 遗失的公主:本小姐不会服从的

    遗失的公主:本小姐不会服从的

    “钟氏千金,无缘无故失去最至亲的人。还困在一个阴谋里出不来。好不容易看见了希望的火苗,又被一个人踩灭,我跟他无冤无仇为什么要这样对我!”钟萦纤又拿起酒杯。突然冲出来一个男人,把酒杯摔碎。不错她是钟萦纤又爱又恨的人。“你会后悔你如今所做的一切,我说过了,我不是幕后黑手!”男人吼完转身就走。。
  • 势不两立

    势不两立

    人有三罪。一罪断其手,二罪割其喉,三罪主死仆生灭其家。凡犯此三罪者,皆死。ps:悬疑案件较多,智商不够请绕道。
  • 现代两性幸福密码

    现代两性幸福密码

    现代社会,两性关系复杂微妙。面对灯红酒绿,如何葆有纯洁的感情?面对情感危机,如何找到幸福的出路?面对滚滚红尘,如何做真正的自己?读懂《现代两性幸福密码》,解开密码,你会发现,征服男人并不难,征服女人也不易。以现代化性、爱情、婚姻新理念新手法开展人生,用自己的心和智慧把握幸福。男人。女人,其实都可以活得美丽且精彩!
  • 最后一个阴阳天师

    最后一个阴阳天师

    曾经有人问他为什么修道。他的回答很简单:“红颜绝色!”“长生不老!”“逍遥自在!”只是,事情真的这么简单么?在背后,许回说:“要不是被逼无奈,傻子才会走上这条路!”
  • 男神karry之王俊凯

    男神karry之王俊凯

    写女主梦莹和男主王俊凯发生了什么事情,尽情期待吧!
  • 异剑引

    异剑引

    前世的记忆是否可以轮回,一把失去了灵魂的仙剑遗落凡间,执念散去,残念投向凡间,药有药引,剑有剑引,失去了灵魂的异剑开始寻求至真至性之人,找到引者,仙剑自然就会出世,想得到仙剑的人,都开始寻找异剑引者,利用还是阴谋,背叛或是真情,都不再重要……
  • 肇论略注

    肇论略注

    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。
  • 大凶凌天

    大凶凌天

    大乱后留下的是什么?大道崩殂万物俱灭。平静之下掩埋的是累累白骨,愤怒的凶嗤诅咒天下苍生。破碎的大刀,冰冷的尸体,上古战场的遗骸,又将向人们诉说怎样的一个故事……