Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/69

 knife. I came down—old Van Loo did, that's to say—and fell on my leg, so I couldn't run. And then this man came up and began chopping at me as I sprawled.

—Oh, don't, don't! That's enough! Well, what happened?

—I couldn't get to my holster, and Mafflin came round the corner and stopped the performance.

—How? He's such a lazy man, I don't believe he did.

—Don't you? I don't think the man had much doubt about it. Jack cut his head off.

—Cut—his—head—off! "With one blow," as they say in the books?

—I'm not sure. I was too interested in myself to know much about it. Anyhow the head was off, and Jack was punching old Van Loo in the ribs to make him get up. Now you know all about it, dear, and now

—You want me to go, of course. You never told me about this, though I've been married to you for ever so long; and you never would have told me if I hadn't found out; and you never do tell me anything about yourself, or what you do, or what you take an interest in.

—Darling, I'm always with you, aren't I?

—Always in my pocket, you were going to say. I know you are; but you are always thinking away from me.

(trying to hide a smile).—Am I? I wasn't aware of it. I'm awf'ly sorry.

(piteously).—Oh, don't make fun of me! Pip, you know what I mean. When you are reading one of those things about cavalry, by that idiotic Prince—why doesn't he be a Prince, instead of a stable-boy?

—Prince Kraft a stable-boy! Oh, my Aunt! Never mind, dear! You were going to say?

—It doesn't matter. You don't care for what I say. Only—only you get up and walk about the room, staring in front of you, and then Mafflin comes in to dinner,