"OF HUMAN BONDAGE" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maugham W. Somerset)

"I'll call again after breakfast."

"I'll show you out, sir," said the child's nurse.

They walked downstairs in silence. In the hall the doctor
stopped."

You've sent for Mrs. Carey's brother-in-law, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir."

"D'you know at what time he'll be here?"

"No, sir, I'm expecting a telegram."

"What about the little boy? I should think he'd be better out of
the way."

"Miss Watkin said she'd take him, sir."

"Who's she?"

"She's his godmother, sir. D'you think Mrs. Carey will get over
it, sir?"

The doctor shook his head.


CHAPTER II

IT was a week later. Philip was sitting on the floor in the
drawing-room at Miss Watkin's house in Onslow gardens. He was an
only child and used to amusing himself. The room was filled with
massive furniture, and on each of the sofas were three big
cushions. There was a cushion too in each arm-chair. All these
he had taken and, with the help of the gilt rout chairs, light
and easy to move, had made an elaborate cave in which he could
hide himself from the Red Indians who were lurking behind the
curtains. He put his ear to the floor and listened to the herd
of buffaloes that raced across the prairie. Presently, hearing
the door open, he held his breath so that he might not be
discovered; but a violent hand piled away a chair and the
cushions fell down.

"You naughty boy, Miss Watkin _will_ be cross with you."

"Hulloa, Emma!" he said.

The nurse bent down and kissed him, then began to shake out the
cushions, and put them back in their places.