Читать книгу The 'Piping Times' - John Jeffery Farnol - Страница 19

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NEXT morning, aroused by some low, persistent sound, Tom opened unwilling eyes, to see his factotum beside the bed, bearing a tray with tea and buttered toast.

“Coo, luv a duck, Guvnor,” quoth this small servitor, “you takes a precious lot o’ wakin’, you do! ’Ere’s me been sayin’ ‘tea, sir, tea, sir,’ and you a-snorin’——

“Go, I never snore!”

“Right-o, Guv, then I only thought you did! Milk an’ sugar, sir?”

“Both, thanks.”

“Wot abaht our other gent, sir, ’im wiv the black ’air an’ eyes like gimblets,—do I take ’im tea, too?”

“Certainly, Go, yes, by all means. Give him my compliments and say I hope he slept well.”

“Yessir.”

“And you might ask if you can shave him.”

“Very good, sir. And when I’ve done ’im, shall I come back an’ give you a scrape too? Ye see, I works in a barber shop once.”

“Did you, by Jingo!”

“Yessir, and never cut nobody—much, not to matter.”

“However, I rather think I’ll shave myself as usual. But you may bring me hot water in about half an hour.”

“Very good, sir! Tea all right and up to the knocker, sir?”

“Excellent, thanks.”

“Then I’ll cut along to t’other gent.”

“Do, but mind you don’t cut him too!”

“Trust me, Guv. Blimey, I got a razor-’and steady as a rock!”

In due season, his toilet performed, Tom descended to the coffee-room, there to find Mark scanning the morning paper, but a Mark who looked at him with twinkling eyes and lips twitching to a smile.

“Tom,” said he, laying aside the paper, “that boy ... that amazing boy of yours!”

“Aha, the young shaver suggested shaving you, did he? And I would point out to you that his razor-hand is steady as a rock! Also that he ‘never cut nobody—much’!”

Breakfast now appearing with waiter attendant, down sat they forthwith, and for some while conversation languished.

Hardly was their meal ended than Go presented himself to announce:

“Ho, Guvnor, hif you please, there’s two waggins outside asting for you, and all loaded up wi’ wood an’ I dunno wot. So wot’ll I tell ’em, sir?”

“Say it’s for Trevore, and tell ’em to wait my instructions. And order the dogcart.”

“Very good, sir.”

“By the way, Mark, I suppose before we take possession, as it were, we must be armed with The Parent’s authority—what?”

“Certainly, Tom. But that is all arranged; I have but to secure the keys from your father’s agents in Falmouth, Ratcliff, the lawyers. I’ll go after breakfast.”

“Good man! And while in Falmouth you might buy a tent or so, with beds and necessary what-nots. Meanwhile I’ll get along to Trevore ... must see my wood and so forth unloaded where I want it.”

At this moment The Factotum presented himself, to salute smartly and say:

“Dogcart’s at the door, sir. And oh—hif y’please, shall I drive?”

“Of course, young Jehu! So-long, Mark!”

Thus presently, with ‘young Jehu’ perched on lofty driving seat, small hands grasping reins and whip with such assured dexterity, while Tom, seated beside him, glanced alternately at the small, enraptured face above him and the richly beautiful scenery around him, away they bowled.