Redcoat Captain: A Story of That CountryOllivant, Alfred
Science
Redcoat Captain: A Story of That Country
Ollivant, Alfred
English fiction; Parables
"You are very straight and true, Phyllis. So I love you. Only I must
sack you all the same, because you mustn't pinch," for that is one of
the rules.
Then Phyllis nearly cried, and said,
"Very well, Miss. Only why can't the Others go back to Abroad where
they belong?"
And when Baby heard that, she went to the back-door, and peeped.
And there were the Others trying on huge flower-hats before the glass,
and saying there was only one puffect gentleman in That Country, and he
was the Commander-in-Chief.
So Baby said very gently,
"My dears, don't you think you'd be happier back in Abroad, where you
belong?"
Then the Others turned up their noses, and drooped down their mouths,
and said,
"Thank-ye for nothin--We was just hon the go."
And they swept out arm-in-arm, and flounced back to Abroad, where they
belonged; and a good job too.
But Phyllis stayed with Baby for ever and ever.
40
Then about next morning the Commander-in-Chief came to the Fort in the
Hole, and knocked.
And he was wearing a cap and gown over his khaki-coat, so people might
take him for a scholar; and under his arm was the great E-book.
And when the Junior Subaltern came to the gate, and asked him what he
wanted, he dropped his eyes, and answered very piously, "I have come to
examine you all in E,--and especially my deah Captain Tiny."
So the Junior Subaltern let him in, because he knew he could do it all
right.
Then the Commander-in-Chief came in, walking with his shoulders rather
round, and his knees rather knocky, because that was how he thought you
did if you were a scholar.
But when he got to the square, there was the King in his crown walking
up and down arm in arm with the Colonel and Tiny.
And they were laughing and chattering all together at once; and the
King was telling about his visitors, and how they had gone at last; and
the Colonel was talking about the sea-gull, and how he had christened
him Moses; and Tiny was telling about mannikin, and what a good little
mannikin he was growing under Baby, who had him out of his hole every
day to pick daisies, and taught him.
But when they saw the Commander-in-Chief slouching across the square,
with the E-book under his arm, they all stopped.
Then the King stepped forward, and took off his crown very courteously,
and said,
"Ah, St Jack! I see why you've come. Well. I'll tell you. I have
just examined these gentlemen for you. And I know no one will be so
glad as you to hear that they have all passed, and especially your deah
Captain Tiny, as nobody ever passed before. So now you can go back to
the Castle whence you came. Thank-you very much all the same. How
d'you do?--Good-bye."
Then the Commander-in-Chief, when he heard that, bowed up and down with
a sort of a smile.
And after that he slouched back across the square to the gate: for
there was nothing else to do.
But Tiny ran before him in a great bustle, saying,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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