“It’s Jaques’ business to kill him,” said Ranulf, solemnly. “It’s a good thing he has got long enough arms.”
Jaques did not seem to see it, and the whole three were anything but comfortable in their minds.
A GREAT BORE.
It was somewhat reassuring, however, to notice that the news of the arrival of Blunderbore appeared to distress none of the rest of the company. The ladies were all looking through their opera-glasses, with faces which showed that he had no terrors for them. The gentlemen seemed, on the whole, to be rather disgusted, as the announcement of the giant’s approach appeared to throw them entirely into the shade so far as the fair sex were concerned, and they looked at one another with glances of pique and contempt, as the ladies twittered away in eager conversation—eyes sparkling, lips smiling, and that curious buzz that always heralds a great arrival running through the whole assemblage.
HE STOOPS TO CONQUER.
“Any room for me?” said a voice (which, though evidently kept as mild as possible, made a sound very like the Westminster chimes striking the first quarter), as a face about three yards long, below a three-cornered cocked-hat, made its appearance under the fern-leaf fringe of the tent of flowers. Blunderbore had been compelled to stoop down so low in order to look in that his face was level with his knees, and as it was very round, the effect was ludicrously like a circular clock on pillars. The moment the face became visible, all strange and unpleasant thoughts began to fade from the boys’ minds, for it was the picture of jolly good-nature. His eyes, the balls of which were larger than a Christmas plum-pudding, fastened themselves specially on Ranulf, and putting out a vast hand, he shook a forefinger as large as a bolster at him, saying—
“Now, I know you are expecting me to say Fe-fo-fum, something about grinding bones, and all that.”
“Y-e-e-e-e-s, sir,” said Ranulf, half frightened, but only half; for the jolly face was so good-humoured that it was almost impossible to be afraid.
INVITING A LARGE PARTY.