75 лучших рассказов / 75 Best Short Stories

’

�The money for the nurse in London—’

�Because I objected to being waited on by a man who got no sleep.’

�These lodgings—’

�Because I wanted to do something for my old nurse.’

�And now, sir, a fortnight’s holiday!’

�Good-bye, William!’ I said, in a fury.

But before I could get away Mrs. Hicking signed to William to leave the room, and then she kissed my hand. She said something to me. It was about my wife. Somehow I – What business had William to tell her about my wife?

They are all back in Drury Lane now, and William tells me that his wife sings at her work just as she did eight years ago.

I have no interest in this, and try to check his talk of it; but such people have no sense of propriety, and he even speaks of the girl Jenny, who sent me lately a gaudy pair of worsted gloves worked by her own hand. The meanest advantage they took of my weakness, however, was in calling their baby after me. I have an uncomfortable suspicion, too, that William has given the other waiters his version of the affair; but I feel safe so long as it does not reach the committee.

The Solid Gold Reef Company, Limited (Walter Besant)

Act I

�You dear old boy,’ said the girl, �I am sure I wish it could be, with all my heart, if I have any heart.’

�I don’t believe you have,’ replied the boy gloomily.

�Well, but, Reg, consider; you’ve got no money.’

�I’ve got five thousand pounds. If a man can’t make his way upon that he must be a poor stick.

’

�You would go abroad with it and dig, and take your wife with you – to wash and cook.’

�We would do something with the money here. You should stay in London, Rosie.’

�Yes. In a suburban villa, at Shepherd’s Bush, perhaps. No, Reg, when I marry, if ever I do – I am in no hurry – I will step out of this room into one exactly like it.’ The room was a splendid drawing-room in Palace Gardens, splendidly furnished. �I shall have my footmen and my carriage, and I shall—’

�Rosie, give me the right to earn all these things for you!’ the young man cried impetuously.

�You can only earn them for me by the time you have one foot in the grave. Hadn’t I better in the meantime marry some old gentleman with his one foot in the grave, so as to be ready for you against the time you come home? In two or three years the other foot, I dare say, would slide into the grave as well.