FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  
and induced her, with a promise "never to do it again," to withdraw her threat to turn us out, when the postman appeared coming round the corner. It was a comparatively rare sight in Beadle Square, and Jack and I naturally felt our curiosity excited. "May as well see if there's anything for me," said I, who had only once heard from my affectionate relative in six months. Jack laughed. "I never saw such a fellow," said he, "for expecting things. It's just as likely there's a letter for me as for you." At this moment the postman came up with a letter in his hand in apparent perplexity. "Anything for me?" I said. "Not unless your name's Smith," said the postman. "Smith of Beadle Square, that's the party--might as well send a letter to a straw in a haystack." "My name's Smith," said Jack. "Is it?" said the postman, evidently relieved. "Then I suppose it's all right." So saying he placed the letter in Jack's hand and walked on, evidently quite proud to have found out a Smith at first shot. Jack's colour changed as he took the letter and looked at it. He evidently recognised the cramped, ill-formed hand in which it was addressed. "It's from Packworth!" he exclaimed, as he eagerly tore open the envelope. I don't think he intended the remark for me, for we had never once referred either to his home or his relatives since the first day we were together in London. In fact, I had almost come to forget that my friend Smith had a home anywhere but in Beadle Square. He glanced rapidly over the short scrawl, and as he did so his face turned pale and a quick exclamation escaped his lips. "Anything wrong, old man?" I asked. "Yes," said he, looking up with a face full of trouble. "Here, you can see it," he added, putting the letter into my hand. It was a very short letter, and ran thus:-- "Dear Mister Johnny,--Mary is very very ill. Could you come and seen her? Do come--from Jane Shield." "Mary is my sister," said Jack, nearly breaking down. "I must go, whether Barnacle lets me or no." Our walk to the office that morning was quicker than usual, and more silent. Poor Jack was in no mood for conversation, and I fancied it would be kinder not to worry him. We reached Hawk Street before any of the partners had come, and Smith's patience was sorely tried by the waiting. "I say," said he presently to me, "I must go, Fred. Will you tell them?" "Yes, if you like, only--" "Now
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

letter

 

postman

 

evidently

 
Beadle
 

Square

 

Anything

 

threat

 
putting
 
Johnny
 

Shield


sister

 

breaking

 
trouble
 

withdraw

 

Mister

 

turned

 

scrawl

 

glanced

 

rapidly

 

exclamation


escaped

 

partners

 

patience

 
sorely
 

Street

 

reached

 

waiting

 

presently

 

office

 
morning

quicker

 

induced

 

promise

 

friend

 

Barnacle

 

fancied

 
kinder
 
conversation
 
silent
 
naturally

curiosity

 
haystack
 

suppose

 

relieved

 

excited

 
fellow
 

laughed

 

months

 
affectionate
 
relative