beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第35章
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went after it。 The chase was a long one； and when my aunt at last ran
the bird to a standstill she was nearer home than she was to the
shooting party； she had left that some five miles behind her。〃
〃Rather a long run for a wounded pheasant；〃 snapped Amblecope。
〃The story rests on my aunt's authority；〃 said Treddleford coldly；
〃and she is local vice…president of the Young Women's Christian
Association。 She trotted three miles or so to her home； and it was not
till the middle of the afternoon that it was discovered that the lunch for
the entire shooting party was in a pannier attached to the pony's saddle。
Anyway； she got her bird。〃
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〃Some birds； of course； take a lot of killing；〃 said Amblecope； 〃so do
some fish。 I remember once I was fishing in the Exe； lovely trout
stream； lots of fish； though they don't run to any great size … 〃
〃One of them did；〃 announced Treddleford； with emphasis。 〃My
uncle； the Bishop of Southmolton； came across a giant trout in a pool
just off the main stream of the Exe near Ugworthy； he tried it with every
kind of fly and worm every day for three weeks without an atom of
success； and then Fate intervened on his behalf。 There was a low stone
bridge just over this pool； and on the last day of his fishing holiday a
motor van ran violently into the parapet and turned completely over； no
one was hurt； but part of the parapet was knocked away； and the entire
load that the van was carrying was pitched over and fell a little way into
the pool。 In a couple of minutes the giant trout was flapping and
twisting on bare mud at the bottom of a waterless pool； and my uncle
was able to walk down to him and fold him to his breast。 The van…
load consisted of blotting…paper； and every drop of water in that pool had
been sucked up into the mass of spilt cargo。〃
There was silence for nearly half a minute in the smoking…room； and
Treddleford began to let his mind steal back towards the golden road that
led to Samarkand。 Amblecope； however； rallied； and remarked in a
rather tired and dispirited voice：
〃Talking of motor accidents； the narrowest squeak I ever had was the
other day； motoring with old Tommy Yarby in North Wales。 Awfully
good sort； old Yarby； thorough good sportsman； and the best … 〃
〃It was in North Wales；〃 said Treddleford； 〃that my sister met with
her sensational carriage accident last year。 She was on her way to a
garden…party at Lady Nineveh's； about the only garden…party that ever
comes to pass in those parts in the course of the year； and therefore a
thing that she would have been very sorry to miss。 She was driving a
young horse that she'd only bought a week or two previously； warranted
to be perfectly steady with motor traffic； bicycles； and other common
objects of the roadside。 The animal lived up to its reputation； and
passed the most explosive of motor… bikes with an indifference that almost
amounted to apathy。 However； I suppose we all draw the line
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somewhere； and this particular cob drew it at travelling wild beast shows。
Of course my sister didn't know that； but she knew it very distinctly
when she turned a sharp corner and found herself in a mixed company of
camels； piebald horses； and canary…coloured vans。 The dogcart was
overturned in a ditch and kicked to splinters； and the cob went home
across country。 Neither my sister nor the groom was hurt； but the
problem of how to get to the Nineveh garden…party； some three miles
distant； seemed rather difficult to solve； once there； of course； my
sister would easily find some one to drive her home。 'I suppose you
wouldn't care for the loan of a couple of my camels？' the showman
suggested； in humorous sympathy。 ' I would；' said my sister； who had
ridden camel…back in Egypt； and she overruled the objections of the
groom； who hadn't。 She picked out two of the most presentable…
looking of the beasts and had them dusted and made as tidy as was
possible at short notice； and set out for the Nineveh mansion。 You may
imagine the sensation that her small but imposing caravan created when
she arrived at the hall door。 The entire garden…party flocked up to
gape。 My sister was rather glad to slip down from her camel； and the
groom was thankful to scramble down from his。 Then young Billy
Doulton； of the Dragoon Guards； who has been a lot at Aden and thinks
he knows camel… language backwards； thought he would show off by
making the beasts kneel down in orthodox fashion。 Unfortunately
camel words…of…command are not the same all the world over； these
were magnificent Turkestan camels； accustomed to stride up the stony
terraces of mountain passes； and when Doulton shouted at them they
went side by side up the front steps； into the entrance hall； and up the
grand staircase。 The German governess met them just at the turn of
the corridor。 The Ninevehs nursed her with devoted attention for
weeks； and when I last heard from them she was well enough to go
about her duties again； but the doctor says she will always suffer from
Hagenbeck heart。〃
Amblecope got up from his chair and moved to another part of the
room。 Treddleford reopened his book and betook himself once more
across
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The dragon…green； the luminous； the dark； the serpent…haunted sea。
For a blessed half…hour he disported himself in imagination by the
〃gay Aleppo…Gate；〃 and listened to the bird…voiced singing…man。 Then
the world of to…day called him back； a page summoned him to speak
with a friend on the telephone。
As Treddleford was about to pass out of the room he encountered
Amblecope； also passing out； on his way to the billiard…room； where；
perchance； some luckless wight might be secured and held fast to listen
to the number of his attendances at the Grand Prix； with subsequent
remarks on Newmarket and the Cambridgeshire。 Amblecope made as
if to pass out first； but a new…born pride was surging in Treddleford's
breast and he waved him back。
〃I believe I take precedence；〃 he said coldly； 〃you are merely the
club Bore； I am the club Liar。〃
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THE ELK
TERESA； Mrs。 Thropplestance； was the richest and most
intractable old woman in the county of Woldshire。 In her dealings with
the world in general her manner suggested a blend between a Mistress of
the Robes and a Master of Foxhounds； with the vocabulary of both。 In
her domestic circle she comported herself in the arbitrary style that one
attributes； probably without the least justification； to an American
political Boss in the bosom of his caucus。 The late Theodore
Thropplestance had left her； some thirty…five years ago； in absolute
possession of a considerable fortune； a large landed property； and a
gallery full of valuable pictures。 In those intervening years she had
outlived her son and quarrelled with her elder grandson； who had
married without her consent or approval。 Bertie Thropplestance； her
younger grandson； was the heir…designate to her property； and as such he
was a centre of interest and concern to some half…hundred ambitious
mothers with daughters of marriageable age。 Bertie was an amiable；
easy…going young man； who was quite ready to marry anyone who was
favourably recommended to his notice； but he was not going to waste
his time in falling in love with anyone who would come under his
grandmother's veto。 The favourable recommendation would have to
come from Mrs。 Thropplestance。
Teresa's house…parties were always rounded off with a plentiful
garnishing of presentable young women and alert； attendant mothers； but
the old lady was emphatically discouraging whenever any one of her girl
guests became at all likely to outbid the others as a possible
granddaughter…in…law。 It was the inheritance of her fortune and estate
that was in question； and she was evidently disposed to exercise and
enjoy her powers of selection and rejection to the utmost。 Bertie's
preferences did not greatly matter； he was of the sort who can be stolidly
happy with any kind of wife； he had cheerfully put up with his
grandmother all his life； so was not likely to fret and fume over a
