Boardinghouses -- Fiction; Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901 -- Fiction; Widows -- Fiction
at all in the open Square with a lady that kept a barber's shop my
opinion is that the Major was right to dance his best and to lead off
with a power that I did not think was in him, though I was a little
uneasy at the Barricading sound of the cries that were set up by the
other dancers and the rest of the company, until when I says "What are
they ever calling out Jemmy?" Jemmy says, "They're calling out Gran,
Bravo the Military English! Bravo the Military English!" which was very
gratifying to my feelings as a Briton and became the name the Major was
known by.
But every evening at a regular time we all three sat out in the balcony
of the hotel at the end of the courtyard, looking up at the golden and
rosy light as it changed on the great towers, and looking at the shadows
of the towers as they changed on all about us ourselves included, and
what do you think we did there? My dear, if Jemmy hadn't brought some
other of those stories of the Major's taking down from the telling of
former lodgers at Eighty-one Norfolk Street, and if he didn't bring 'em
out with this speech:
"Here you are Gran! Here you are godfather! More of 'em! I'll read.
And though you wrote 'em for me, godfather, I know you won't disapprove
of my making 'em over to Gran; will you?"
"No, my dear boy," says the Major. "Everything we have is hers, and we
are hers."
"Hers ever affectionately and devotedly J. Jackman, and J. Jackman
Lirriper," cries the Young Rogue giving me a close hug. "Very well then
godfather. Look here. As Gran is in the Legacy way just now, I shall
make these stories a part of Gran's Legacy. I'll leave 'em to her. What
do you say godfather?"
"Hip hip Hurrah!" says the Major.
"Very well then," cries Jemmy all in a bustle. "Vive the Military
English! Vive the Lady Lirriper! Vive the Jemmy Jackman Ditto! Vive
the Legacy! Now, you look out, Gran. And you look out, godfather.
_I'll_ read! And I'll tell you what I'll do besides. On the last night
of our holiday here when we are all packed and going away, I'll top up
with something of my own."
"Mind you do sir" says I.
CHAPTER II--MRS. LIRRIPER RELATES HOW JEMMY TOPPED UP
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account