beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第15章
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business to the fore。〃
〃On state occasions I always wear a black ribbon in my hair；〃 said
Vera with crushing dignity。
Latimer Springfield was a rather cheerless； oldish young man； who
went into politics somewhat in the spirit in which other people might go
into half…mourning。 Without being an enthusiast； however； he was a
fairly strenuous plodder； and Mrs。 Durmot had been reasonably near
the mark in asserting that he was working at high pressure over this
election。 The restful lull which his hostess enforced on him was
decidedly welcome； and yet the nervous excitement of the contest had
too great a hold on him to be totally banished。
〃I know he's going to sit up half the night working up points for his
final speeches；〃 said Mrs。 Durmot regretfully； 〃however； we've kept
politics at arm's length all the afternoon and evening。 More than that
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we cannot do。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Vera； but she said it to herself。
Latimer had scarcely shut his bedroom door before he was immersed
in a sheaf of notes and pamphlets； while a fountain…pen and pocket…book
were brought into play for the due marshalling of useful facts and
discreet fictions。 He had been at work for perhaps thirty…five minutes；
and the house was seemingly consecrated to the healthy slumber of
country life； when a stifled squealing and scuffling in the passage was
followed by a loud tap at his door。 Before he had time to answer； a
much… encumbered Vera burst into the room with the question； 〃I say；
can I leave these here？〃
〃These〃 were a small black pig and a lusty specimen of black…red
gamecock。
Latimer was moderately fond of animals； and particularly interested
in small livestock rearing from the economic point of view； in fact； one
of the pamphlets on which he was at that moment engaged warmly
advocated the further development of the pig and poultry industry in
our rural districts； but he was pardonably unwilling to share even a
commodious bedroom with samples of henroost and stye products。
〃Wouldn't they be happier somewhere outside？〃 he asked； tactfully
expressing his own preference in the matter in an apparent solicitude for
theirs。
〃There is no outside；〃 said Vera impressively； 〃nothing but a waste of
dark； swirling waters。 The reservoir at Brinkley has burst。〃
〃I didn't know there was a reservoir at Brinkley；〃 said Latimer。
〃Well； there isn't now； it's jolly well all over the place； and as we
stand particularly low we're the centre of an inland sea just at present。
You see the river has overflowed its banks as well。〃
〃Good gracious！ Have any lives been lost？〃
〃Heaps； I should say。 The second housemaid has already identified
three bodies that have floated past the billiard…room window as being the
young man she's engaged to。 Either she's engaged to a large assortment
of the population round here or else she's very careless at identification。
Of course it may be the same body coming round again and again in a
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swirl； I hadn't thought of that。〃
〃But we ought to go out and do rescue work； oughtn't we？〃 said
Latimer； with the instinct of a Parliamentary candidate for getting into
the local limelight。
〃We can't；〃 said Vera decidedly； 〃we haven't any boats and we're cut
off by a raging torrent from any human habitation。 My aunt
particularly hoped you would keep to your room and not add to the
confusion； but she thought it would be so kind of you if you would take
in Hartlepool's Wonder； the gamecock； you know； for the night。 You
see； there are eight other gamecocks； and they fight like furies if they get
together； so we're putting one in each bedroom。 The fowl…houses are
all flooded out； you know。 And then I thought perhaps you wouldn't
mind taking in this wee piggie； he's rather a little love； but he has a vile
temper。 He gets that from his mother … not that I like to say things
against her when she's lying dead and drowned in her stye； poor thing。
What he really wants is a man's firm hand to keep him in order。 I'd try
and grapple with him myself； only I've got my chow in my room； you
know； and he goes for pigs wherever he finds them。〃
〃Couldn't the pig go in the bathroom？〃 asked Latimer faintly；
wishing that he had taken up as determined a stand on the subject of
bedroom swine as the chow had。
〃The bathroom？〃 Vera laughed shrilly。 〃It'll be full of Boy Scouts
till morning if the hot water holds out。〃
〃Boy Scouts？〃
〃Yes； thirty of them came to rescue us while the water was only
waist…high； then it rose another three feet or so and we had to rescue
them。 We're giving them hot baths in batches and drying their clothes
in the hot… air cupboard； but； of course； drenched clothes don't dry in a
minute； and the corridor and staircase are beginning to look like a bit of
coast scenery by Tuke。 Two of the boys are wearing your Melton
overcoat； I hope you don't mind。〃
〃It's a new overcoat；〃 said Latimer； with every indication of minding
dreadfully。
〃You'll take every care of Hartlepool's Wonder； won't you？〃 said
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Vera。 〃His mother took three firsts at Birmingham； and he was second
in the cockerel class last year at Gloucester。 He'll probably roost on the
rail at the bottom of your bed。 I wonder if he'd feel more at home if
some of his wives were up here with him？ The hens are all in the
pantry； and I think I could pick out Hartlepool Helen； she's his
favourite。〃
Latimer showed a belated firmness on the subject of Hartlepool
Helen； and Vera withdrew without pressing the point； having first settled
the gamecock on his extemporised perch and taken an affectionate
farewell of the pigling。 Latimer undressed and got into bed with all
due speed； judging that the pig would abate its inquisitorial restlessness
once the light was turned out。 As a substitute for a cosy； straw…bedded
sty the room offered； at first inspection； few attractions； but the
disconsolate animal suddenly discovered an
