Mrs. Tim Gets a Job by D.E. Stevenson

Author:D.E. Stevenson
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2018-11-07T06:00:00+00:00

When Erica has finished reading and closed the book everybody thanks her effusively and a babble of conversation breaks forth, amongst which can be heard individual remarks. Mrs. Ovens is telling the world how much she enjoys the delicate satire of Jane Austen; Mrs. Maloney is agreeing with her; Jane is inimitable, declares Miss Dove. Mrs. Stannard says, “And Miss Clutterbuck reads so well, doesn’t she? It’s a pleasure to listen.”

I look round the room from one to another, everyone is pleased and satisfied. I am pleased too, of course, for the reading has been most enjoyable and Erica’s voice is an admirable instrument for its task, but . . .

“So you knew!” says Erica’s voice in my ear (she has come up behind me while I was looking at the other members of the party).

“Er—yes—” I reply doubtfully. “It was like Miss Austen, but not quite Miss Austen—if you know what I mean.”

“Nobody better,” says Erica drily.

“And Miss Austen would never have allowed her heroine to refuse a good match and be fobbed off with an ordinary country squire.”

“I believe you’re right,” says Erica with a very thoughtful air.

“Why did you do it, Erica?”

“Huntigowk, of course. This is the first of April.”

“Yes—but—”

“Austen was too good for the likes of them. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact—”

“Dear Jane, how I adore her!” says Erica, copying the honeyed accents of Mrs. Ovens with ludicrous effect. “Makes me sick—hrrmph,” says Erica blowing out smoke.

“Erica, what was it?” I enquire, for this has been puzzling me all along. “If it wasn’t Austen what was it?”

“Clutterbuck, of course,” replies Erica with a grim smile.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.