FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156  
157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   >>   >|  
ge the thing upside down if he wants to!" Joe's futility certainly had something of the comic order about it. He had a dramatic fashion of rolling his eyes when expectant of rebuke, which was by no means seldom. And the vastness of his smile was almost bewildering. Sylvia had never been able quite to accustom herself to his smile. "He's exactly like a golliwog, isn't he?" said Guy. "His head will split in two if you encourage him." But Sylvia, hot and anxious, found it impossible to view Joe's exhibition with enjoyment. He was more stupid in the execution of her behests than she had ever found him before, and at length, losing patience, she dismissed him and proceeded to erect the bed herself. She was in the midst of this when there came the sound of a step in the room, and Guy's quick, "Hullo!" told her of the entrance of a third person. She stood up sharply, and met Burke face to face. She was panting a little from her exertions, and her hand went to her side. For the moment a horrible feeling of discomfiture overwhelmed her. His look was so direct; it seemed to go straight through her. "What is this for?" he said. She mastered her embarrassment with a swift effort. "Guy said you slept on the floor last night. I am sure it wasn't very comfortable, so I have brought this in instead. You don't mind?" with a glance at him that held something of appeal. "I mind you putting it up yourself," he said briefly. "Sit down! Where's that lazy hound, Joe?" "Oh, don't call Joe!" Guy begged. "He has already reduced her to exasperation. She won't listen to me either when I tell her that I can look after myself at night. You tell her, Burke! She'll listen to you perhaps." But Burke ended the matter without further discussion by putting her on one side and finishing the job himself. Then he stood up. "Let Mary Ann do the rest! You have been working too hard. Come, and have some lunch! You'll be all right, Guy?" "Oh, quite," Guy assured him. "Mary Ann can take care of me. She'll enjoy it." Sylvia looked back at him over her shoulder as she went out, but she did not linger. There was something imperious about Burke just then. They entered the sitting-room together. "Look here!" he said. "You're not to tire yourself out. Guy is convalescent now. Let him look after himself for a bit!" "I haven't been doing anything for Guy," she objected. "Only I can't have you sleeping on th
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156  
157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Sylvia
 

listen

 

putting

 

brought

 

sleeping

 
reduced
 
appeal
 

objected

 
briefly
 

glance


exasperation

 

begged

 
looked
 

assured

 
sitting
 

imperious

 
linger
 
entered
 

shoulder

 

finishing


convalescent

 

matter

 

discussion

 

comfortable

 

working

 

horrible

 

encourage

 

accustom

 

golliwog

 

anxious


execution

 
behests
 

stupid

 

impossible

 

exhibition

 
enjoyment
 

dramatic

 
fashion
 

futility

 
upside

rolling
 

vastness

 
bewildering
 
seldom
 

expectant

 

rebuke

 
length
 

direct

 
straight
 

overwhelmed