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第29章 The Cup of Tea（第1页）

第29章TheCupofTea

AffoncoBotelho

Notverymahejourneyfroahadtobemadepartlybystagedpartlybyrail，asthetrypermitted。

&agecoabysixpowerfulhorses，stoodatthepoiurefromtheofficesofthegpanyinOporto，awaitingthefinalarrivals。Inthewildcrowdaroundtheepassehattheyotgettheplacestheyhadbookedandothersotfindtheirluggage。Thegeurbaedfromtimetotimebytheroughlaheporters。

Ayoungmansatiheplaearthedoor。Hehadtakeearly，andhisluggagewasalliherplaceswereallfilledwiththeexoftheoehim;andthisoobereservedforsomepassengerwhohadoarriveihedrivergatheredupthereins，andtheguardbegantosoundthesigure。

&radtheer-afatmanwalkinglikeaduck，breathinghard，andwavinganenormousumbrellaiionofthecoach。Afterhimcametwoporterswithaloadofluggage。

Theguardusedsuage，theluggagewasliftedup，apassengertotheemptyplaedifficultyhefoundroomforhisumbrellaandabigraincloak。

ThehorsessetoffaloreetsofOportoiionoftheroadleadingtotherailwaystationoftheMinho-Dourolipassengerseemedasomethieredimpatientlytohimself，andotsitstill。Atlasthecaughttheeyeoftheyoungmanopposite，JoaodeSousa。

"Itistoobad，sir，"heexclaimed，"Justthink:Iycupoftea!"

JoaodeSousadidlookedquestioninglyatthefatmaon:

"Yousee，ithasalwaysbeenmytotakeacupofteaaftermylunch;justacupblacktea。IwasinsuchahurrytocatchthecoachthatIdidnotwaitforteajustnow。IottellyouhowImissit。Yousee，sir，whenamaomyage，habitsareeverything，anditisreallydreadfultohavetobreakyourhabits。NowIknowIshallbemiserablethroughoutthejourneybecauseIycupoftea。Y，sir，buttaketheadvianwhularhabits。Whenyouonasteadyhabit，letnothingputyouoffit。"

JoaodeSousawasamused。"Butwheherailwaystation，"hesaid，"youwillbeabletogetteairoom。"

"Ofcourse!Ihadnotthoughtofthat!Itwillbealittlebitlateaftermylunch，butatleastitwillbesomething。"

&heygottothestatioraiheplatform。Everyoherefreshmentroomtoprepareforthetrainjourney，saglassofwiingsomebreadandfruit，othersbypurgfoodtoeatirain。

&mansatdowablesandlookedroundforawaiter。Buttherewerefewofthem，anditwassometimebeforeheattractedtheattentionofoneandorderedacupoftea。Hewasabouttogivedetailsoftheteathathewahebusywaiterhadtoattendtootherorders。AtlastJoaodeSousa，whengoingofftotakehisplathetraimaoenjoyhisfavouritedrink。

&lyhecamerushingoutahetrainjustasthewhistlesoudownoppositeJoaodeSousa，andwipedhisfacewithabrilliantsilkhandkerchief。

"Well?"JoaodeSousasmiled。

"Mydearboy，itwasgreehewaiterbroughtme。Ieverdriea!"

&raihroughthemagains，pastlittlefarm-housesawasingoingsunhadgohehills。Thefatpassengersawhese。Heyaweredimpatieionsunderhisbreath。DeSousaheardamoahtheword"tea"。

"Youhaveyourcupoftea，"hesaid。"Where?"

"Weleavethetraiakeaagecoach。"

"Ah，sowedo!Ihadnotthoughtofit。Manythanksfme。Igetteaintheihecoachstarts。"

&passeosiohimselfuoaheavysleep，lulledbythemotioraiopeilJoaodeSousagavehimalittleshake。

"Whatisit?Wherearewe?"

"WeareatCahide。Wemustgetoffhereahecoach。"