Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/98

 —good and sweet as she is—sometimes I could wish that I had kqt my freedom No, I don't mean that exactly.

(coming down verandah).—What are you wagging your head over, Pip?

(turning quickly).—Me, as usual. The old sermon. Your husband is recommending me to get married. 'Never saw such a one-idead man!

—Well, why don't you? I daresay you would make some woman very happy.

—There's the Law and the Prophets, Jack. Never mind the Regiment. Make a woman happy. (Aside.) O Lord!

—We'll see. I must be off to make a Troop Cook desperately unhappy. I won't have the wily Hussar fed on G. B. T. shin-bones (Hastily.) Surely black ants can't be good for The Brigadier. He's picking 'em off the floor and eating 'em. Here, Senor Commandante Don Grubbynose, come and talk to me. (Lifts G., junior, in his arms.) 'Want my watch? You won't be able to put it into your mouth, but you can try. (G., junior, drops watch, breaking dial and hands.)

—Oh Captain Mafflin, I am so sorry! Jack, you bad, bad little villain. Ahhh!

—It's not the least consequence, I assure you. He'd treat the world in the same way if he could get it into his hands. Everything's made to be played with and broken, isn't it, young 'un? (Tenderly.) "Oh Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest the mischief that thou hast done."

—Mafflin didn't at all like his watch being broken, though he was too polite to say so. It was entirely his fault for giving it to the child. Dem little puds are werry, werry feeble, aren't dey, my Jack-in-the-box? (To G.) What did he want to see you for?

—Regimental shop o' sorts.