登陆注册
5383800000188

第188章

The next stop was at the Bird in Hand, a wayside public house that stood all by itself in a lonely hollow.The landlord was a fat, jolly-looking man, and there were several customers in the bar - men who looked like farm-labourers, but there were no other houses to be seen anywhere.This extraordinary circumstance exercised the minds of our travellers and formed the principal topic of conversation until they arrived at the Dew Drop Inn, about half an hour afterwards.The first brake, containing Rushton and his friends, passed on without stopping here.The occupants of the second brake, which was only a little way behind the first, were divided in opinion whether to stop or go on.Some shouted out to the driver to pull up, others ordered him to proceed, and more were undecided which course to pursue - a state of mind that was not shared by the coachman, who, knowing that if they stopped somebody or other would be sure to stand him a drink, had no difficulty whatever in coming to a decision, but drew rein at the inn, an example that was followed by both the other carriages as they drove up.

It was a very brief halt, not more than half the men getting down at all, and those who remained in the brakes grumbled so much at the delay that the others drank their beer as quickly as possible and the journey was resumed once more, almost in silence.No attempts at singing, no noisy laughter; they scarcely spoke to each other, but sat gloomily gazing out over the surrounding country.

Instructions had been given to the drivers not to stop again till they reached the Queen Elizabeth, and they therefore drove past the World Turned Upside Down without stopping, much to the chagrin of the landlord of that house, who stood at the door with a sickly smile upon his face.Some of those who knew him shouted out that they would give him a call on their way back, and with this he had to be content.

They reached the long-desired Queen Elizabeth at twenty minutes to four, and were immediately ushered into a large room where a round table and two long ones were set for dinner - and they were set in a manner worthy of the reputation of the house.

The cloths that covered the tables and the serviettes, arranged fanwise in the drinking glasses, were literally as white as snow, and about a dozen knives and forks and spoons were laid for each person.

Down the centre of the table glasses of delicious yellow custard and cut-glass dishes of glistening red and golden jelly alternated with vases of sweet-smelling flowers.

The floor of the dining-room was covered with oilcloth - red flowers on a pale yellow ground; the pattern was worn off in places, but it was all very clean and shining.Whether one looked at the walls with the old-fashioned varnished oak paper, or at the glossy piano standing across the corner near the white-curtained window, at the shining oak chairs or through the open casement doors that led into the shady garden beyond, the dominating impression one received was that everything was exquisitely clean.

The landlord announced that dinner would be served in ten minutes, and while they were waiting some of them indulged in a drink at the bar -just as an appetizer - whilst the others strolled in the garden or, by the landlord's invitation, looked over the house.Amongst other places, they glanced into the kitchen, where the landlady was superintending the preparation of the feast, and in this place, with its whitewashed walls and red-tiled floor, as in every other part of the house, the same absolute cleanliness reigned supreme.

`It's a bit differint from the Royal Caff, where we got the sack, ain't it?' remarked the Semi-drunk to Bill Bates as they made their way to the dining-room in response to the announcement that dinner was ready.

`Not arf!' replied Bill.

Rushton, with Didlum and Grinder and his other friends, sat at the round table near the piano.Hunter took the head of the longer of the other two tables and Crass the foot, and on either side of Crass were Bundy and Slyme, who had acted with him as the Committee who had arranged the Beano.Payne, the foreman carpenter, occupied the head of the other table.

The dinner was all that could be desired; it was almost as good as the kind of dinner that is enjoyed every day by those persons who are too lazy to work but are cunning enough to make others work for them.

There was soup, several entrees, roast beef, boiled mutton, roast turkey, roast goose, ham, cabbage, peas, beans and sweets galore, plum pudding, custard, jelly, fruit tarts, bread and cheese and as much beer or lemonade as they liked to pay for, the drinks being an extra;and afterwards the waiters brought in cups of coffee for those who desired it.Everything was up to the knocker, and although they were somewhat bewildered by the multitude of knives and forks, they all, with one or two exceptions, rose to the occasion and enjoyed themselves famously.The excellent decorum observed being marred only by one or two regrettable incidents.The first of these occurred almost as soon as they sat down, when Ned Dawson who, although a big strong fellow, was not able to stand much beer, not being used to it, was taken ill and had to be escorted from the room by his mate Bundy and another man.They left him somewhere outside and he came back again about ten minutes afterwards, much better but looking rather pale, and took his seat with the others.

The turkeys, the roast beef and the boiled mutton, the peas and beans and the cabbage, disappeared with astonishing rapidity, which was not to be wondered at, for they were all very hungry from the long drive, and nearly everyone made a point of having at least one helping of everything there was to be had.Some of them went in for two lots of soup.Then for the next course, boiled mutton and ham or turkey: then some roast beef and goose.Then a little more boiled mutton with a little roast beef.Each of the three boys devoured several times his own weight of everything, to say nothing of numerous bottles of lemonade and champagne ginger beer.

同类推荐
  • 梵语千字文之二

    梵语千字文之二

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 奇经八脉考

    奇经八脉考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说施灯功德经

    佛说施灯功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始无量度人上品妙经注

    元始无量度人上品妙经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • An Essay on Profits

    An Essay on Profits

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 万界之全能至尊

    万界之全能至尊

    穿越后灵魂发生了神秘异变的江言,像是个人形电脑一样拥有了种种天赋异能。——完全记忆!精准掌控!超速演算!多心多用!更惊喜的是,江言还发现他能与其他生命进行联机链接,还能复制对方的技能软件安装到自己身上!这样的江言,会在这诸天万界掀起怎样的传奇呢?(PS:萌新初作,求支持求呵护)
  • 只怪我们太贪玩

    只怪我们太贪玩

    青梅竹马的好处是,生命纠缠在一起很长很长的时间,只要他是对的人,只要他身边没有人,总有希望碰到对的时刻。青梅竹马的坏处是,生命纠缠在一起很多很多的时刻,即便他是对的人,即便他身边没有人,即便遇上了对的时刻,你也未必能察觉……“欧阳随。”她骤然转身看他,清清冷冷的扬起嘲讽的微笑,“是我们自己把那么多的圆弧扯到彼此中间,即便你是我遗失的那一半,我们也永远组不成完整的圆了。”
  • 重生之摄政女王

    重生之摄政女王

    颜洛,大陆上无人不知,无人不晓的天才少女。年仅十五岁,便接任颜家家主之位,以雷霆手段震压了族中不服之人,更是将颜家带上了大陆五大家族之首,却在二十多岁的时候,将家主之位让给年幼的弟弟,不顾族中之人的反对,嫁给南宫王朝的景王,助他夺得皇位,却原来一切都是利用。她恨他,在临死之前立下血誓"南宫景,我诅咒你,诅咒你这辈子断子绝孙。"再次睁开眼睛,她重生了。带着滔天的恨意,命运的齿轮也开始变换了轨迹。
  • 世界最具财富性的企业精英(3)

    世界最具财富性的企业精英(3)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 疸门

    疸门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 虚静冲和先生徐神翁语录

    虚静冲和先生徐神翁语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 高冷萌帝爱悍妃

    高冷萌帝爱悍妃

    当渴望拥有骗死人不偿命容貌的逗比女汉子终于穿越成了萌哒哒的软妹子,还是只有八岁的小萝莉,她以为是老天爷听见了她无数次的祷告,只是笑抽的泪还含在眼底,就听到有人声色俱厉的问,“罪臣之女墨宝,皇恩浩荡,给你两个选择,一是喝了这杯毒酒,二是贬去春来院!”纳尼?考试什么的最讨厌了,还好是选择题。她盯着那杯毒酒,毫不犹豫的划掉这个答案,然后天真无邪的问道,“春来院是什么地方?”大殿上一片同情惋惜之色,“花楼!”她却骤然眸子晶亮,“去花楼,去花楼,去花楼!”重要的事情说三遍!“……”举殿目瞪口呆!去花楼还如此欢脱的千古唯有她一人尔!龙椅之上,某只纯正萌萌哒的小美男轻哼了一声,声若天籁般动听,成功的吸引了她的注意,看到的第一眼,她忍不住惊呼,“天使?”比起天使,他就差一对翅膀了好吧?闻言,举殿再次目瞪口呆,“……”舔,舔,舔什么来着?咳咳,本文口味稍重,可木禾是绝壁纯洁的,且温馨宠溺、欢乐无下限,节操妥妥的,就像女主一百零一次信誓旦旦的强调,“人家真的是纯洁的!”噗,明明是妇科医生,却要去看男人的病……理由是,女人让她审美疲劳了,她作为一个胸怀大志的美少女,怎么能没有点更高的追求呢?于是,入花楼,开医馆,大把的银子赚,顺带着种种田,玩玩宫心计,最大的成就还是养了一只名为皇帝的小包子,一双异于常人的魔瞳为她保驾护航,活的恣意洒脱,谁不服来战?保管让你变成蛇精病!关于高冷傲娇萌萌哒的男主vs彪悍逗比纯洁女汉子她不高兴了,他哄她,高高在上的姿态,百试不爽的一招是,“朕赏你摸一下脸。”摸着摸着,萌萌哒的小包子被她养成了秀色可餐的小鲜肉。她又不高兴了,他哄她,心里小鹿乱撞而面色高冷的姿态,百试不爽的一招换成,“朕赏你亲一下!”亲着亲着,小鲜肉就被养成了祸害人的绝世美男。她再不高兴了,他哄她,这一次换成了更限制级的,打死也不肯承认自己很期待,“朕赏你睡一下!”睡着睡着……噗,她是那么没有节操的人么,她绝壁会捍卫自己的贞洁,于是她义正言辞的拒绝,“姐要在上面!”他耳根发热,乖乖躺下,“……温柔一点,还有,记得以后要自称臣妾!”
  • 寻花觅

    寻花觅

    走马坪生死剑搏,绝世神功再现江湖,蛮荆魔教寻得灭世术法,还尘宫以生死济苍生。少年又柔柔弱弱,怎留得住她的芳华?真正至高的玄道真谛,谁可纳取?行走江湖又一朝,何为真谛?
  • 青春的悔恨

    青春的悔恨

    葛虎黑红的脸有点发潮,他骑在自行车上像喝醉酒似的身体左右摇晃。是她吗?葛虎又使劲地摇晃了一下脑袋,嘴里不停地发出一种谁也听不懂的“叽里咕噜”的声音。是她,葛虎对她的身影太熟悉了,尽管已经分别了将近20年。一阵冷风吹过,正沉浸在无边遐思中的葛虎不禁打了个寒战,她看见我了吗?应该不会看见吧,我是骑车从她背后过去的。其实葛虎也只看见她的一个背影,一个经过20年岁月磨砺的中年妇女瘦弱而又充满沧桑的背影。她变得很多很多,但是葛虎一看见她的背影便认出她了,她那特有的身影葛虎有刻骨铭心的记忆。
  • 魔魇1末世之痕

    魔魇1末世之痕

    多年前,负责调查超自然事件的“孤烟计划”研究组在沙漠遭遇到非人为的组织性袭击,最终全军覆没、埋尸荒原。两年后,某陆地作战部队在沙漠盆地也遭遇到了超自然生物的袭击,同样命失黄沙。韩飞是普通中学高三学子,高考后被罗伊·韦伯斯特坑蒙拐骗进入了猎魔师培训学院(Devil-HunterTrainingCollege)。在这所学院里,他发现了人类科学无法解释的能力——神谕。学院里的每一个人都至少掌握一种神谕,但身为最强猎魔师之子的韩飞却难以掌握攻击型神谕,最终进修信息型神谕“视听”。不久,学院收到一份报告,内陆沙漠存在上古魔类,学院派出由卡洛·韦伯斯特、高桥浩、高桥樱子和韩飞组成的四人小组前往该沙漠进行魔类调查。与此同时,世界各地的猎魔师都收到相同的报告,不约而同地前往沙漠进行猎魔任务,以提升自己的猎魔等级。后来众人遇到上古魔类的制造者,在沙漠中与饕餮搏杀。众人败北而逃后,猎魔学院的院长亲自上阵,解决了魔类制造者。但随即而来的是成群的上古四凶,猎魔师抵挡不住,魔兽东侵,生灵涂炭……