博炮作文网>最后一片叶子读后感 > 第29章 the cu f tea（第3页）
第29章 the cu f tea（第3页）
"Oh，Iamglad。Youareverygood，sir。
"
Thecoachrolledonthroughthecountryroads，andinsiteofthemotionandthenoisetheassengersslet。JoaodeSousaremainedawake，watchingthecountryassunderthelightofthemoon:thetrees，thehedges，thelightsfromthehousesofavillageonthehillside。PresentlytheycametotheancientbridgeofAmarante，theoriginofwhichislostinthemistsoftheast。Thecoachassedintothenarrowstonystreet，andstoedoutsidethefamousoldinnoftheCaadera。Thedining-roomoftheinnwasfulloftobaccosmokeandthesmellofchocolate。Thewaiteradvancedtoshowthetravelerstotheirseats，andresentlyareallyexcellentsuerwasserved。ThisJoaodeSousathoroughlyenjoyed，drinkingthegoodwineofValdeenas。Helookedroundandsawthefatassengersittingatacornerofthetable，waitinganxiouslytoseaktothewaiter。
"Waiter，Iwantacuoftea，strongandblack，remember。Nootherwilldo。
"
"Sir，inaninstant。Imustjustservethesuer，andthenIwillordertheteaforyou。Whatwillyouhaveforsuer，sir?
"
"IcannoteatanythinguntilIhavehadmytea。
"
Thewaitercontinuedservingthegreatdishesofchickenandallkindsofexcellentfood;andbottlesofgoodwinewereassedmerrilyroundthetable。Thefatassengerwaitedatiently。Presentlyitwasannouncedthatthecoachwouldstartinfiveminutes，andtherewasgreatexcitementandconfusion。Everyonerushedtofindalaceinthecoach，andJoaodeSousaheardtheunhayvoiceofthefatassengersaying，
"Andmytea?Waiter，whataboutthattea?
"
"Inoneminute，sir。
"
Allhadtakentheirlacesexcetthefatman，whostoodatthedooroftheinnimatiently。Asthecoachhadtoclimbthemountainforsomedistance，astrongteamoftwelveoxenhadbeenfastenedtoit，gaywithredcasandbrassbells。Theguardcalledtothefatassenger，
"Takeyourlace，sir，ifyoulease。Icanwaitnolonger。
"
Suddenlythewaitercamerunningwithasteamingcuofteaonatray。Thefatassengerhadonefootonthesteofthecoach，butheutteredacryofjoy，seizedthecu，andraisedittohislis。Butthenextinstanthecriedoutindistress，andutthecubackonthetray。
"Imossibletodrinkthistea，waiter。Itisboilinghot。Whydoyoubringitlikethat，whenthecoachisjuststarting?
"AndheclimbedintohislaceoositeJoaodeSousa，tearsofainandannoyanceinhiseyes。
Thestagecoachclimbedthehillslowlyforfivehours，draggedbytheslowbutowerfuloxen。Afinerainfellontheenormousoldtreesbesidethemountainroad，andthewindwhisfiedthroughtheirbranches。HereandtherelittlestreamsrandownfromthemountainsnowstowardsthemightyRiverDouro。
Thedriverwalkedbesidetheleaderoftheteam，encouragingtheoxen。AlltheassengersexcetJoaodeSousaslet。Theyassedastone-builthouseneartheroad，andthemoonthrewstrangereflectionsonitsroof。Higherutheyassedalittlecottageabovewhichhungamassiveblockofstonewhichlookedasifitmightfallatanymoment。Theroadgrewnarrowerastheyaroachedtheto，andthesunrose，bathingthemountaininmanycolours-urle，inkandyellow。ThecoachstoedataninnnearthevillageofQuintella，andthoseassengerswhowereawakedescendedtostretchtheirlegsintheuremorningair。
JoaodeSousawalkedalongadmiringtheslendourofthescenery。Peakaftereakextendedasfarastheeyecouldsee，andlowerdownshoneawidestretchofwater。Thewholelovelyicturewasframedinthegreattrees，andastheyoungmanausedtodrawabreathofdelight，heheardaslowstearoaching。Alongyawnofwearinesssoundedclosetohisear，andJoaodeSousasmiledatthesightofthefatassenger，stillhalfaslee，andsodifferentfromtheglowofthenewmorning。
"Well，sir，howareyou?Whataboutyourteanow?
"
"Oh，mydearyoungfriend，Ihavereallylostallhoes。Thereisnoteainthatmiserableinn;theysaynooneeverasksforsuchathing。
"
Thehorseswereready，andtheguardgavethesignalforthestart。Theywentfastdownthemountain-sideandweresoonamongdarktreesandthenfruit。PresentlytheassengerswereamongthegraesthatgrowbytheDouro。Bythesideofthegreatrivertheydroveformanymilesuntilthehousesgrewthickerandgardensaeared。AtlasttheyenteredthewhitestreetsofRegoa。Itwasjusthalfasteightinthemorning，therighthourforbreakfast。
Asthecoachstoedatthehotel，afinebuildingwithgreenshutters，thefatassengerturnedtoJoaodeSousawithasmile。
"Ithankyou，sir，forallyourcourtesy。Ishouldhavehadadreadfuljourneyindeedwithoutyouragreeablecomany。IcannottellyouhowIhavesufferedfromthelossofmycuoftea。Itiswrongtogiveuhabitsatmyage。Takemyadvice，sir，anddonotallowanythingtointerferewithahabityouhaveformed，ifitisagoodone。NowIcangetmycuofteaatlast。Itislate，itistrue，butbetterlatethannever。Permitmetointroducemyself，sir。MynameisBarnadedosAnjos;IamanativeofthetownofFreixo-de-Esada-a-Cinta，andIamtravelingtoDouroonbusiness。Ihoetomeetyouagain，sir，andinanycaseIamalwaysatyourservice。Iwishyougoodluckandasafejourney;andnowIamgoing，mydearyoungfriend，todrinkyourhealthinacuoftea。
"
