After supper I shall go away early, you
know, because I shall be afraid of catching cold.
know, because I shall be afraid of catching cold.
Kipling - Poems
Don't interrupt, Polly,
I'm inspired. A mauve and white striped 'cloud' round my excellent
shoulders, a seat in the fifth row of the Gaiety, and both horses sold.
Delightful vision! A comfortable armchair, situated in three different
draughts, at every ballroom; and nice, large, sensible shoes for all
the couples to stumble over as they go into the veranda! Then at
supper. Can't you imagine the scene? The greedy mob gone away. Reluctant
subaltern, pink all over like a newly-powdered baby--they really ought
to tan subalterns before they are exported--Polly--sent back by the
hostess to do his duty. Slouches up to me across the room, tugging at
a glove two sizes too large for him--I hate a man who wears gloves like
overcoats--and trying to look as if he'd thought of it from the first.
'May I ah--have the pleasure 'f takin' you 'nt' supper? ' Then I get up
with a hungry smile. Just like this. "
"Lucy, how can you be so absurd? "
"And sweep out on his arm. So!
After supper I shall go away early, you
know, because I shall be afraid of catching cold. No one will look for
my 'rickshaw. Mine, so please you! I shall stand, always with that mauve
and white 'cloud' over my head, while the wet soaks into my dear, old,
venerable feet and Tom swears and shouts for the mem-sahib's gharri.
Then home to bed at half-past eleven! Truly excellent life helped out
by the visits of the Padri, just fresh from burying somebody down
below there. " She pointed through the pines, toward the Cemetery, and
continued with vigorous dramatic gesture--"Listen! I see it all down,
down even to the stays! Such stays! Six-eight a pair, Polly, with red
flannel--or list is it? --that they put into the tops of those fearful
things. I can draw you a picture of them. "
"Lucy, for Heaven's sake, don't go waving your arms about in that
idiotic manner! Recollect, every one can see you from the Mall. "
"Let them see! They'll think I am rehearsing for The Fallen Angel.
I'm inspired. A mauve and white striped 'cloud' round my excellent
shoulders, a seat in the fifth row of the Gaiety, and both horses sold.
Delightful vision! A comfortable armchair, situated in three different
draughts, at every ballroom; and nice, large, sensible shoes for all
the couples to stumble over as they go into the veranda! Then at
supper. Can't you imagine the scene? The greedy mob gone away. Reluctant
subaltern, pink all over like a newly-powdered baby--they really ought
to tan subalterns before they are exported--Polly--sent back by the
hostess to do his duty. Slouches up to me across the room, tugging at
a glove two sizes too large for him--I hate a man who wears gloves like
overcoats--and trying to look as if he'd thought of it from the first.
'May I ah--have the pleasure 'f takin' you 'nt' supper? ' Then I get up
with a hungry smile. Just like this. "
"Lucy, how can you be so absurd? "
"And sweep out on his arm. So!
After supper I shall go away early, you
know, because I shall be afraid of catching cold. No one will look for
my 'rickshaw. Mine, so please you! I shall stand, always with that mauve
and white 'cloud' over my head, while the wet soaks into my dear, old,
venerable feet and Tom swears and shouts for the mem-sahib's gharri.
Then home to bed at half-past eleven! Truly excellent life helped out
by the visits of the Padri, just fresh from burying somebody down
below there. " She pointed through the pines, toward the Cemetery, and
continued with vigorous dramatic gesture--"Listen! I see it all down,
down even to the stays! Such stays! Six-eight a pair, Polly, with red
flannel--or list is it? --that they put into the tops of those fearful
things. I can draw you a picture of them. "
"Lucy, for Heaven's sake, don't go waving your arms about in that
idiotic manner! Recollect, every one can see you from the Mall. "
"Let them see! They'll think I am rehearsing for The Fallen Angel.
