Page:Buddenbrooks vol 1 - Mann (IA buddenbrooks0001mann).pdf/78

RV 66 (BUDDENBROOKS) up, strangling horribly&mdash;and all of you jump up&mdash;Ugh. . . !” and he suddenly gives a short groan, full of horror and affright, starts up in his chair, and acts as if he were trying to escape.

The Frau Consul and Ida Jungmann actually do jump up.

“Heavens, Christian!&mdash;you haven’t swallowed it, have you?” For his whole appearance suggests that he has.

“No,” says Christian slowly. “No”&mdash;he is gradually quieting down&mdash;“I only mean, suppose I actually had swallowed it!”

The Consul has been pale with fright, but he recovers and begins to scold. Old Johann bangs his fist on the table and forbids any more of these idiotic practical jokes. But Christian, for a long, long time, eats no more peaches.

RV 66 (66)