"By Jove, let's!" he exclaimed. "I've had no breakfast. I'm ravenous.
Do they still have that cheese and crusty loaf there?"
Mr. Waddington glanced at the clock.
"It's on by now," he declared. "Come along."
They went out together and trod eagerly yet a trifle sheepishly the very
well-known way that led to the Golden Lion. The yellow-haired young
lady behind the bar welcomed them with a little cry of astonishment.
She tossed her head. Her manner was familiar but was intended to convey
some sense of resentment.
"To think of seeing you two again!" she exclaimed. "You, Mr.
Waddington, of all gentlemen in the world! Well, I declare!" she went
on, holding out her hand across the counter, after having given it a
preliminary wipe with a small duster. "Talk about a deserter! Where
have you been to every morning, I should like to know?"
"Not anywhere else, my dear," Mr. Waddington asserted, hastily, "that I
can assure you. Seem to have lost my taste for beer, or taking anything
in the morning lately. Matter of digestion, I suppose. Must obey our
doctors, eh? We'll have a tankard each, please. That's right, isn't
it, Burton?"
Burton, whose mouth was already full of bread and cheese, nodded.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206