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Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir, 1863-1944

"News from the Duchy"

Sharl, very gentle-like,
trying to keep the peace.
"Call yourself his friend!" Jim snapped him up. "Get off, the pair
of you. Friend indeed! Go and buy him a veil."
But 'twas easily seen that Mrs. Polwhele couldn't be carried farther.
So Sammy Hosking pulled up at a farmhouse a mile beyond St. Germans:
and there she was unloaded, with her traps, and put straight to bed:
and a farm-boy sent back to Torpoint to fetch a chaise for her as
soon as she recovered. And the Highflyer--that had been delayed
three-quarters of an hour--rattled off at a gallop, with all on board
in the worst of tempers.
When they reached Falmouth--which was not till after ten o'clock at
night--and drew up at the "Crown and Anchor," the first man to hail
them was old Parson Polwhele, standing there under the lamp in the
entry and taking snuff to keep himself awake.
"Well, my love," says he, stepping forward to help his wife down and
give her a kiss. "And how have you enjoyed the journey?"
But instead of his wife 'twas a bull-necked-looking man that swung
himself off the coach-roof, knocking the Parson aside, and bounced
into the inn without so much as a "beg your pardon.


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