Part 22 (2/2)
”Well, I won't say that. You see, the best catches are very often flukes, and I remember one awful fluke of that sort.”
”Do tell us, Daddy?”
”Well, dear, I was fielding at slip. That is very near the wicket, you know. Woodc.o.c.k was bowling, and he had the name of being the fastest bowler of England at that time. It was just the beginning of the match and the ball was quite red. Suddenly I saw something like a red flash and there was the ball stuck in my left hand. I had not time to move it.
It simply came and stuck.”
”Oo!”
”I saw another catch like that. It was done by Ulyett, a fine Yorks.h.i.+re player--such a big, upstanding fellow. He was bowling, and the batsman--it was an Australian in a test match--hit as hard as ever he could. Ulyett could not have seen it, but he just stuck out his hand and there was the ball.”
”Suppose it had hit his body?”
”Well, it would have hurt him.”
”Would he have cried?” from Dimples.
”No, boy. That is what games are for, to teach you to take a knock and never show it. Supposing that--”
A step was heard coming along the pa.s.sage.
”Good gracious, boys, here's Mumty. Shut your eyes this moment. It's all right, dear. I spoke to them very severely and I think they are nearly asleep.”
”What have you been talking about?” asked the Lady.
”Cwicket!” cried Dimples.
”It's natural enough,” said Daddy; ”of course when two boys--”
”Three,” said the Lady, as she tucked up the little beds.
III--SPECULATIONS
The three children were sitting together in a bunch upon the rug in the gloaming. Baby was talking so Daddy behind his newspaper p.r.i.c.ked up his ears, for the young lady was silent as a rule, and every glimpse of her little mind was of interest. She was nursing the disreputable little downy quilt which she called Wriggly and much preferred to any of her dolls.
”I wonder if they will let Wriggly into heaven,” she said.
The boys laughed. They generally laughed at what Baby said.
”If they won't I won't go in, either,” she added.
”Nor me, neither, if they don't let in my Teddy-bear,” said Dimples.
”I'll tell them it is a nice, clean, blue Wriggly,” said Baby. ”I love my Wriggly.” She cooed over it and hugged it.
”What about that, Daddy?” asked Laddie, in his earnest fas.h.i.+on. ”Are there toys in heaven, do you think?”
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