The Wonderful Wizard of Oz / Волшебник из страны Оз. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Yes, isn’t it?… Yes… No, I wanted you to make a new will for me… Yes, it’s some time since I made the other… Circumstances have altered… Oh no, no hurry. Don’t want you to spoil your Christmas. Say Boxing Day[108 - Boxing Day – День подарков (после Рождества), по традиции хозяева делают своим слугам небольшие подарки] or the day after. Come along, and I’ll tell you what I want done. No, that’s quite all right.

He replaced the receiver, then looked round at the eight members of his family. He cackled and said: �You’re all looking very glum. What is the matter?’

Alfred said: �You sent for us…’

Simeon said quickly: �Oh, sorry – nothing portentous about it. Did you think it was a family council? No, I’m just rather tired today, that’s all. None of you need come up after dinner. I shall go to bed. I want to be fresh for Christmas Day.

He grinned at them. George said earnestly: �Of course… of course…’

Simeon said: �Grand old institution, Christmas. Promotes solidarity of family feeling. What do you think, Magdalene, my dear?’

Magdalene Lee jumped. Her rather silly little mouth flew open and then shut itself. She said: �Oh – oh, yes!’

Simeon said: �Let me see, you lived with a retired naval officer’ – he paused – �your father. Don’t suppose you made much of Christmas.

�Well – well – yes, perhaps it does.’

Simeon’s eyes slid past her.

�Don’t want to talk of anything unpleasant at this time of year, but you know, George, I’m afraid I’ll have to cut down your allowance a bit. My establishment here is going to cost me a bit more to run in future.’

George got very red. �But look here, Father, you can’t do that!’

Simeon said softly: �Oh, can’t I[109 - can’t I – (разг.

�My expenses are very heavy already. Very heavy. As it is, I don’t know how I make both ends meet. It needs the most rigorous economy.’

�Let your wife do a bit more of it,’ said Simeon. �Women are good at that sort of thing. They often think of economies where a man would never have dreamt of them. And a clever woman can make her own clothes. My wife, I remember, was clever with her needle.