Part 11 (2/2)
Oh, Mr. Buzza, you mustn't tell me _that_.” A look from the dark eyes accompanied this sentence.
Now, very few young men of Sam's stamp greatly mind being considered gay Lotharios. So that when he repeated that ”'Pon his word he wasn't,” he also turned his neck about in his collar for a second or so, smiled meaningly, and altogether looked rather pleased than not.
”I'm afraid you are a very sad character, Mr. Buzza.”
”No, really now.”
”And are deceiving me horribly.”
”No, really; wouldn't think of it.”
”Sam!” broke in the Admiral's voice in tones of thunder.
”Yes, sir.”
”How does Mr. Moggridge describe the 'Man-o'-War' Hotel?”
”Says the beer's falling off, sir. It _did_, once upon a time, taste of the barrel, but now he'll be hanged if it tastes of anything at all. It ought--”
”Don't be a fool, sir! I mean in that poem of his from 'Ivy Leaves: or, Tendrils from Troy.'”
”Beg pardon, sir, I'm sure. Let me see--”
Before he could recall it, Sophia finished the quotation, timidly.
”I think, papa, I can remember it:--”
'And thou, Quaint hostel! 'neath whose mould'ring gable ends In amber draught I slake my noonday thirst . . .'
”Something like that, I think, papa.”
”Ah, to be sure: 'mould'ring gable ends,' a most accurate description. It used to belong to--” and the Admiral plunged again into a flood of conversation.
”You must bring this Mr. Moggridge and introduce him,” said Mrs.
Goodwyn-Sandys to Sam. ”He is a Collector of Customs, is he not?
Do you think he would recite any of his verses to me?”
”By the hour. But I shouldn't advise you to ask him. It's all about my sister.”
”Which?”
”The eldest there--Sophy's her name--and don't judge from appearances; the family diet is not hardware.”
”Hush, sir! you must not be rude. That reminds me that I ought to go and speak to them.”
”You won't get anything out of them. If you want a subject, though, I'll give you the straight tip--lambs. I've heard them talk about lambs by the hour. Say they are nice and soft and woolly: that'll draw them out.”
”You are a great quiz, I perceive.”
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