Читать книгу Miss Bunting онлайн

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Frank listened gravely to the end.

"I don't think it's funny, grandpapa," he said, "it's more what I'd call schoolboyish. I think Tom would like it when he knows Latin better."

"Touché," said the Admiral to his daughter; and the clock melodiously struck eight and the bells of St. Hall Friars sounded from the battlemented tower through the chill July evening.

"Grandpapa," said Frank, quickly. "Mr. Dale said the Romans had water clocks. Have you ever seen a water clock, grandpapa?"

"Bed, Frank," said his mother.

"Oh, mother, can't I just wait? Grandpapa hasn't had time to say if he saw a water clock. Did you ever see one, grandpapa? I should think it would make rather a mess. Tom's mother has a sand-glass, grandpapa, that tells you how long it takes to preach a sermon. Did you ever go to church where the clergyman had a sand-glass, grandpapa. Tom preached a sermon when Mrs. Watson was out, but the sand-glass took much too long and he couldn't think of anything more to say. He said----"

"Bed, Frank," said his grandfather.