Teresa of Watling Street: A Fantasia on Modern ThemesBennett, Arnold
General
Teresa of Watling Street: A Fantasia on Modern Themes
Bennett, Arnold
English fiction -- 20th century
‘This is a gentleman from the Williamson Company, dad,’ Teresa
explained. ‘He has brought the new car. He likes travelling at night,
and thought our house was much further on.’
Then she explained the circumstance of the elephant’s attack.
‘Humph!’ exclaimed Raphael Craig.
Richard affected to be occupied solely with the two motor-cars. He
judged it best to seem interested in nothing else. He blew out the
oil-lamps of the old car, and switched off the electric lights of the
new one. Teresa turned instantly to the latter, and began to turn the
light off and on. Her father, too, joined in the examination of the car,
and both father and daughter appeared to be wholly wrapped up in this
new toy. Richard had to explain all the parts. He soon perceived that
he had chanced on one of those households where time is of no account.
Teresa and Raphael Craig saw nothing extraordinary in thus dawdling
over a motor-car at one o’clock in the morning by the light of the moon.
After a thorough inspection of the machine Teresa happened to make some
remark about three-speed gears, and a discussion was launched in which
Richard had to join. A clock within the house chimed two.
‘Suppose we have supper, dad?’ said Teresa, as if struck by a novel and
rather pleasing idea--‘suppose we have supper. The moon will soon be
setting.’
‘And Mr. ----’ said Raphael.
‘Redgrave,’ said Richard. ‘Richard Redgrave.’
‘Will sup with us, I trust,’ said Teresa.
‘True, there are seven inns in the village, but the village is asleep,
and a mile off. We must offer Mr. Redgrave a bed, dad.’
‘Humph!’ exclaimed the old man again.
It was, perhaps, a strange sort of remark, yet from his lips it sounded
entirely correct and friendly.
‘I am getting on excellently,’ mused Richard once more.
‘Mike!’ the girl called. ‘Micky!’
A very small, alert man instantly appeared round the corner of the
garden wall, running towards them. He kept his head bent, so that
Richard could not clearly see his face.
‘What is it ye’ll be after, Miss?’ Micky asked.
‘Take charge of these cars. Put them in the shed. Perhaps Mr. Redgrave
will be good enough to assist you with the new one.’
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