Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Eglantine's fine eyes were filled with tears as Morgiana passionately
uttered the above beautiful words. Little Woolsey's eyes glistened, as
he clenched his fist with an oath, and said, “Show me any singing that
can beat THAT. Cobbler, shut your mouth, or I'll break your head!”
But the cobbler, regardless of the threat, continued to perform the
“Lurlurliety” with great accuracy; and when that was ended, both on his
part and Morgiana's, a rapturous knocking of glasses was heard in the
little bar, then a great clapping of hands, and finally somebody shouted
“Brava!”
“Brava!”
At that word Eglantine turned deadly pale, then gave a start, then a
rush forward, which pinned, or rather cushioned, the tailor against the
wall; then twisting himself abruptly round, he sprang to the door of the
bar, and bounced into that apartment.
“HOW ARE YOU, MY NOSEGAY?” exclaimed the same voice which had shouted
“Brava!” It was that of Captain Walker.
At ten o'clock the next morning, a gentleman, with the King's button
on his military coat, walked abruptly into Mr. Eglantine's shop, and,
turning on Mr. Mossrose, said, “Tell your master I want to see him.”
“He's in his studio,” said Mr. Mossrose.
“Well, then, fellow, go and fetch him!”
And Mossrose, thinking it must be the Lord Chamberlain, or Doctor
Praetorius at least, walked into the studio, where the perfumer was
seated in a very glossy old silk dressing-gown, his fair hair hanging
over his white face, his double chin over his flaccid whity-brown
shirt-collar, his pea-green slippers on the hob, and on the fire the pot
of chocolate which was simmering for his breakfast. A lazier fellow
than poor Eglantine it would be hard to find; whereas, on the contrary,
Woolsey was always up and brushed, spick-and-span, at seven o'clock; and
had gone through his books, and given out the work for the journeymen,
and eaten a hearty breakfast of rashers of bacon, before Eglantine had
put the usual pound of grease to his hair (his fingers were always as
damp and shiny as if he had them in a pomatum-pot), and arranged his
figure for the day.
“Here's a gent wants you in the shop,” says Mr. Mossrose, leaving the
door of communication wide open.
“Say I'm in bed, Mr. Mossrose; I'm out of sperrets, and really can see
nobody.”
“It's someone from Vindsor, I think; he's got the royal button,” says
Mossrose.
“It's me--Woolsey,” shouted the little man from the shop.
Mr. Eglantine at this jumped up, made a rush to the door leading to his
private apartment, and disappeared in a twinkling. But it must not be
imagined that he fled in order to avoid Mr. Woolsey. He only went away
for one minute just to put on his belt, for he was ashamed to be seen
without it by his rival.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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