Inside the Lines

"I HAD two trunks-two, ou est l'autre?" The grinning customs guard lifted his shoulders to his ears and spread out his palms. "Mais, mamselle-" "Don't you 'mais' me, sir I had two trunks-deux troncs-when I got aboard that wabbly old boat at Dover this morning, and I'm not going to budge from this w [...]
Visa längre beskrivning

"I HAD two trunks-two, ou est l'autre?" The grinning customs guard lifted his shoulders to his ears and spread out his palms. "Mais, mamselle-" "Don't you 'mais' me, sir I had two trunks-deux troncs-when I got aboard that wabbly old boat at Dover this morning, and I'm not going to budge from this wharf until I find the other one. Where did you learn your French, anyway? Can't you understand when I speak your language?" The girl plumped herself down on top of the unhasped trunk and folded her arms truculently. With a quizzical smile, the customs guard looked down into her brown eyes, smoldering dangerously now, and began all over again his speech of explanation. "Wagon-lit?" She caught a familiar word. "Mais oui; that's where I want to go-aboard yourwagon-lit, for Paris. Voila "-the girl carefully gave the word three syllables-"mon ticket pour Paree " She opened her patent- leather reticule, rummaged furiously therein, brought out a handkerchief, a tiny mirror, a packet of rice papers, and at last a folded and punched ticket. This she displayed with a triumphant flourish. "Voila II dit 'Miss Jane Gerson'; that's me-moi-meme, I mean. And il dit 'deux troncs'; now you can't go behind that, can you? Where is that other trunk?" A whistle shrilled back beyond the swinging doors of the station. Folk in the customs shed began a hasty gathering together of parcels and shawl straps, and a general exodus toward the train sheds commenced. The girl on the trunk looked appealingly about her; nothing but bustle and confusion; no Samaritan to turn aside and rescue a fair traveler fallen among customs guards. Her eyes filled with trouble, and for an instant her reliant mouth broke its line of determination; the lower lip quivered suspiciously. Even the guard started to walk away. "Oh, oh, please don't go " Jane Gerson was on her feet, and her hands shot out in an impulsive appeal. "Oh, dear; maybe I forgot to tip you. Here, attende au secours, if you'll only find that other trunk before the train-"