"Oh, you're all right," she said carelessly. "I'm tired. I should like a
wafer."
"Mother's peckish. Mother, I see an ostrich by your left elbow. That's a
sign that you're so peckish you could swallow anything. Waiter!"
"Sir!"
"This lady's so peckish she could eat anything. Bring her some tin-tacks
and a wafer. Stop a sec. Another brandy for Briskin. Your calves'd do
for the front row; 'pon my word, they would. Trot, boy, trot!"
"I must speak to you alone for one moment," whispered the Prophet to
Miss Minerva, under cover of the quips of Mr. Moses. "Sir Tiglath's
coming!"
Miss Minerva started.
"Sir Tig--" she exclaimed and put her finger to her lips just in time to
stop the "lath" from coming out. "Mr. Moses, I'm going to the buffet for
a moment with Mr. Vivian. Eureka, darling, do eat something substantial!
All this second sight takes it out of you."
Eureka acquiesced with a heavy sigh, Mr. Moses cried, "Aunt Eureka's so
hungry that one would declare she could even eat oats if she found they
were there!" and Miss Minerva and the Prophet moved languidly towards
the buffet, endeavouring, by the indifference of their movements, to
cover the agitation in their hearts.
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