Читать книгу The Vagaries of Tod and Peter онлайн
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“The parent’s name,” Tod announced proudly, “is Theopompus Buggins.”
“Theopompus!” Peter echoed dubiously. “It doesn’t sound very real somehow—and is the kid to be young Theopompus?”
“No,” said Tod firmly, “his name is Archibald, and Mr. Buggins is his uncle.”
“I thought he was to be a parent,” Peter objected in a dissatisfied voice.
“Well, an uncle is a sort of parent; probably the kid’s an orphan.”
There was silence for a minute while Peter digested this view of the matter. But still he was not quite satisfied, for presently he said: “Tod, would you believe in anyone called ‘Theopompus Buggins’?”
“Well, no, I’m not sure that I would,” Tod admitted. “Why?”
“D’you believe the Head will?”
“I never thought of that.”
“I think,” Peter suggested beguilingly, “that we had better have a commoner name, don’t you?”
“P’r’aps we had,” Tod sighed. “Let’s have Jones—Theopompus Jones, now.”
“Jones is all right,” Peter allowed graciously, “but I don’t fancy Theopompus much, it’s such a peculiar name.”