The Red House Mystery and Other Novels. A. A. Milne
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу The Red House Mystery and Other Novels - A. A. Milne страница 98
Название: The Red House Mystery and Other Novels
Автор: A. A. Milne
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Контркультура
isbn: 9781456614010
isbn:
"Yes, my dear," he said. "I just looked in to know what you would like me to bring you."
"You're late, aren't oo? Oughtn't oo to have come this morning?"
(~Editor.~ _This is splendid. This quite reconciles me to the absence of the robin. But what was Elsie doing downstairs?_
~Author.~ _I am making Robert ask her that question directly._
~Editor.~ Yes, but just tell me now--between friends.
~Author.~ _She had left her golliwog in the room, and couldn't sleep without it._
~Editor.~ _I knew that was it._)
"If I'm late, dear," said Robert, with a smile, "why, so are you."
The good food and wine in his veins were doing their work, and a pleasant warmth was stealing over Hardrow. He found to his surprise that airy banter still came easy to him.
"To what," he continued, "do I owe the honour of this meeting?"
"I came downstairs for my dolly," said Elsie. "The one you sent me this morning, do you remember?"
"Of course I do, my dear."
"And what have you bwought me now, Father Kwistmas?"
Robert started. If he was to play the rle successfully he must find something to give her now. The remains of the turkey, a pair of finger-bowls, his old hat--all these came hastily into his mind, and were dismissed. He had nothing of value on him. All had been pawned long ago.
Stay! The gold locket studded with diamonds and rubies, which contained Alice's photograph. The one memento of her that he had kept, even when the pangs of starvation were upon him. He brought it from its resting-place next his heart.
"A little something to wear round your neck, child," he said. "See!"
"Thank oo," said Elsie. "Why, it opens!"
"Yes, it opens," said Robert moodily.
"Why, it's Alith! Sister Alith."
(~Editor.~ _Ha!_
~Author.~ _I thought you'd like that._)
Robert leapt to his feet as if he had been shot.
"Who?" he cried.
"My sister Alith. Does oo know her too?"
Alice's sister! Heavens! He covered his face with his hands.
The door opened.
(~Editor.~ _Ha again!_)
"What are you doing here, Elsie?" said a voice. "Go to bed, child. Why, who is this?"
"Father Kwithmath, thithter."
(~Editor.~ _How exactly do you work the lisping?_
~Author.~ _What do you mean? Don't children of Elsie's tender years lisp sometimes?_
~Editor.~ _Yes, but just now she said "Kwistmas" quite correctly_----
~Author.~ _I am glad you noticed that. That was an effect which I intended to produce. Lisping is brought about by placing the tongue upon the hard surface of the palate, and in cases where the subject is unduly excited or influenced by emotion the lisp becomes more pronounced. In this case---- _
~Editor.~ _Yeth, I thee._)
"Send her away," cried Robert, without raising his head.
The door opened, and closed again. "Well," said Alice calmly, "and who are you? You may have lied to this poor child, but you cannot deceive me. You are _not_ Father Christmas."
The miserable man raised his shamefaced head and looked haggardly at her.
"Alice!" he muttered, "don't you remember me?"
She gazed at him earnestly.
"Robert! But how changed!"
"Since we parted, Alice, much has happened."
"Yet it seems only yesterday that I saw you!"
(~Editor.~ _It_ ~WAS~ _only yesterday._
~Author.~ _Yes, yes. Don't interrupt now, please._)
"To me it has seemed years."
"But what are you doing here?" said Alice.
"Rather, what are _you_ doing here?" answered Robert.
(~Editor.~ _I think Alice's question was the more reasonable one._)
"I live here."
Robert gave a sudden cry.
"Your house! Then I have broken into your house! Alice, send me away! Put me in prison! Do what you will to me! I can never hold up my head again."
Lady Alice looked gently at the wretched figure in front of her.
"I am glad to see you again," she said. "Because I wanted to say that it was _my_ fault!"
"Alice!"
"Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? If you knew what my life has been since I left you! If you knew into what paths of wickedness I have sunk! How only this evening, unnerved by excess, I have deliberately broken into this house--_your_ house--in order to obtain food. Already I have eaten more than half a turkey and the best part of a plum pudding. I----"
With a gesture of infinite compassion she stopped him.
"Then let us forgive each other," she said with a smile. "A new year is beginning, Robert!"
He took her in his arms.
"Listen," he said.
In the distance the bells began to ring in the New Year. A message of hope to all weary travellers on life's highway. It was New Year's Day!
(~Editor.~ СКАЧАТЬ