Awdry's must needs have their holiday and
leave him to do their work; indeed, one was sent off here. For six
weeks I never saw him, except when he used to rush in to say he
couldn't stay; and when at last we were safe in the coupe, he fairly
went to sleep before we got to the first station.--Hush! you _know_
you did! And no wonder, for he had been up two nights with some
sort of infidel who was supposed to be dying. Then that first week
at Filey, he used to bring out his poetry books as the proper sort
of thing, and try to read them to me on the sands: but by the time
he had got to the bottom of a page, I used to hear the words
dragging out slower and slower--
Whereon the--lily--maid--of--Astolat
Lay--smiling--like--a--star-fish--fast--asleep."
Wherewith Rosamond dropped her head and closed her eyes; while the
brothers shouted with mirth, except Frank, whose countenance was 'of
one hurt on a vulnerable side.'
"Disrespect to Elaine? Eh, Frank?" said Charlie; "how many pegs has
Julius gone down in your estimation?"
Frank would not commit himself, but he was evidently at the era of
sensitiveness on the poetical side.
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