Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Bliss and Other Stories

[section]

. . . Snow. Snow in London. Millie with the early morning cup of tea. " There's been a terrible fall of snow in the night, Sir." " Oh, has there, Millie ?" The curtains ring apart, letting in the pale, reluctant light. He raises himself in the bed ; he catches a glimpse of the solid houses opposite framed in white, of their window boxes full of great sprays of white coral. ... In the bathroom—overlooking the back garden. Snow— heavy snow over everything. The lawn is covered with a wavy pattern of cat's paws ; there is a thick, thick icing on the garden table ; the withered pods of the laburnum tree are white tassels ; only here and there in the ivy is a dark leaf showing. . . . Warming his back at the dining-room fire, the paper drying over a chair. Millie with the bacon.

page 178

" Oh, if you please, Sir, there's two little boys come as will do the steps and front for a shilling, shall I let them ? " . . . And then flying lightly, lightly down the stairs—Jinnie. " Oh, Robert, isn't it wonderful! Oh, what a pity it has to melt. Where's the pussy-wee ? " " I'll get him from Millie " . . . " Millie, you might just hand me up the kitten if you've got him down there." " Very good, Sir." He feels the little beating heart under his hand. " Come on, old chap, your Missus wants you." " Oh, Robert, do show him the snow—his first snow. Shall I open the window and give him a little piece on his paw to hold ? . . ."