Death of a Fool Read Online Free PDF

slightly less truculent look appeared in old William’s face.
    “That’s not a maid’s business,” he said. “It’s men’s gear, that is.”
    “I know. She told me. But we can look on, can’t we? Will the swords be out on the Wednesday after the twenty-first, Grandfather?”
    “Certain sure they’ll be out.”
    “I be Whiffler,” Ernie said very loudly. “Bean’t I, chaps?”
    “Hold your noise, then. Us all knows you be Whiffler,” said his father irritably, “and going in mortal dread of our lives on account of it.”
    “And the Wing-Commander’s ‘Crack,’ ” Ernie said, monotonously pursuing his theme. “Wing-Commander Begg, that is. Old ’Oss, that is. ’E commanded my crowd, ’e did. I was ’is servant, I was. Wing-Commander Simon Begg, only we called ’im Simmy-Dick, we did. ’E’ll be Old ’Oss, ’e will.”
    “Ya-a-as, ya-a-s,” said his four brothers soothingly in unison. Ernie’s dog came out from behind the door and gloomily contemplated its master.
    “We can’t have that poor stinking beast in here,” Trixie remarked.
    “Not healthy,” Tom Plowman said. “Sorry, Ern, but there you are. Not healthy.”
    “No more ’tis,” Andy agreed. “Send it back home, Ern.”
    His father loudly ordered the dog to be removed, going so far as to say that it ought to be put out of its misery, in which opinion his sons heartily concurred. The effect of this pronouncement upon Ernie was disturbing. He turned sheet-white, snatched up the dog and, looking from one to the other of his relations, backed towards the door.
    “I’ll be the cold death of any one of you that tries,” he said violently.
    A stillness fell upon the company. Ernie blundered out into the dark, carrying his dog.
    His brothers scraped their boots on the floor and cleared their throats. His father said, “Damned young fool, when all’s said.” Trixie explained that she was as fond of animals as anybody, but you had to draw the line.
    Presently Ernie returned, alone, and, after eying his father for some moments, began to complain like a child.
    “A chap bean’t let ’ave nothin’ he sets his fancy to,” Ernie whined. “Nor let do nothin’ he’s a notion to do. Take my case. Can’t ’ave me dog. Can’t do Fool’s act in the Five Sons. I’m the best lepper and caperer of the lot of you. I’d be a proper good Fool, I would.” He pointed to his father. “You’re altogether beyond it, as the Doctor in ’is wisdom ’as laid it down. Why can’t you heed ’im and let me take over?”
    His father rejoined with some heat, “You’re lucky to whiffle. Hold your tongue and don’t meddle in what you don’t understand. Which reminds me,” he added, advancing upon Trixie. “There was a foreign wumman up along to Copse Forge. Proper old nosy besom. If so be — Ar?”
    Camilla had tugged at his coat and was gesturing in the direction of the hidden Mrs. Bünz. Trixie mouthed distractedly. The four senior brothers made unhappy noises in their throats.
    “In parlour is she?” William bawled. “Is she biding?”
    “A few days,” Trixie murmured. Her father said firmly, “Don’t talk so loud, Guiser.”
    “I’ll talk as loud as I’m minded. Us doan’t want no fureignesses hereabouts —”
    “Doan’t, then, Dad,” his sons urged him.
    But greatly inflamed the Guiser roared on. Camilla looked through into the Private and saw Mrs. Bünz wearing an expression of artificial abstraction. She tiptoed past the gap and disappeared.
    “Grandfather!” Camilla cried out indignantly. “She heard you! How you could! You’ve hurt her feelings dreadfully and she’s not even English —”
    “Hold your tongue, then.”
    “I don’t in the least see why I should.”
    Ernie astonished them all by bursting into shouts of laughter.
    “Like mother, like maid,” he said, jerking his thumb at Camilla. “Hark to our Bessie’s girl.”
    Old William glowered at his grand-daughter. “Bad blood,” he laid