"Three Sundays in a Week" - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

1850
THREE SUNDAYS IN A WEEK
by Edgar Allan Poe

YOU hard-headed, dunder-headed, obstinate, rusty, crusty, musty,
fusty, old savage!" said I, in fancy, one afternoon, to my grand uncle
Rumgudgeon- shaking my fist at him in imagination.
Only in imagination. The fact is, some trivial discrepancy did
exist, just then, between what I said and what I had not the courage
to say- between what I did and what I had half a mind to do.
The old porpoise, as I opened the drawing-room door, was sitting
with his feet upon the mantel-piece, and a bumper of port in his
paw, making strenuous efforts to accomplish the ditty.

Remplis ton verre vide!
Vide ton verre plein!

"My dear uncle," said I, closing the door gently, and approaching
him with the blandest of smiles, "you are always so very kind and
considerate, and have evinced your benevolence in so many- so very
many ways- that- that I feel I have only to suggest this little
point to you once more to make sure of your full acquiescence."
"Hem!" said he, "good boy! go on!"
"I am sure, my dearest uncle [you confounded old rascal!], that
you have no design really, seriously, to oppose my union with Kate.
This is merely a joke of yours, I know- ha! ha! ha!- how very pleasant
you are at times."
"Ha! ha! ha!" said he, "curse you! yes!"
"To be sure- of course! I knew you were jesting. Now, uncle, all
that Kate and myself wish at present, is that you would oblige us with
your advice as- as regards the time- you know, uncle- in short, when
will it be most convenient for yourself, that the wedding shall- shall
come off, you know?"
"Come off, you scoundrel!- what do you mean by that?- Better wait
till it goes on."
"Ha! ha! ha!- he! he! he!- hi! hi! hi!- ho! ho! ho!- hu! hu! hu!-
that's good!- oh that's capital- such a wit! But all we want just now,
you know, uncle, is that you would indicate the time precisely."
"Ah!- precisely?"
"Yes, uncle- that is, if it would be quite agreeable to yourself."
"Wouldn't it answer, Bobby, if I were to leave it at random- some
time within a year or so, for example?- must I say precisely?"
"If you please, uncle- precisely."
"Well, then, Bobby, my boy- you're a fine fellow, aren't you?- since
you will have the exact time I'll- why I'll oblige you for once:"
"Dear uncle!"
"Hush, sir!" [drowning my voice]- I'll oblige you for once. You
shall have my consent- and the plum, we mus'n't forget the plum- let
me see! when shall it be? To-day's Sunday- isn't it? Well, then, you
shall be married precisely- precisely, now mind!- when three Sundays