Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
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Itwasindeedwonderfulhow,withtheself-respectandsenseofproprietyoftheBritishhousekeeper,theladyhadwithinafewminutesadornedthecentraltablewithasnow-whitecloth,laidthenapkinsuponit,andsetforththesimplemealwithalltheeleganceofcivilization,includinganelectrictorchlampinthecentre.Wonderfulalsowasittofindthatourappetiteswereravenous.
"Itisthemeasureofouremotion,"saidChallengerwiththatairofcondescensionwithwhichhebroughthisscientificmindtotheexplanationofhumblefacts."Wehavegonethroughagreatcrisis.Thatmeansmoleculardisturbance.Thatinturnmeanstheneedforrepair.Greatsorroworgreatjoyshouldbringintensehunger—notabstinencefromfood,asournovelistswillhaveit."
"That’swhythecountryfolkhavegreatfeastsatfunerals,"Ihazarded.
"Exactly.Ouryoungfriendhashituponanexcellentillustration.Letmegiveyouanothersliceoftongue."
"Thesamewithsavages,"saidLordJohn,cuttingawayatthebeef."I’veseenthemburyin’achiefuptheAruwimiRiver,andtheyateahippothatmusthaveweighedasmuchasatribe.TherearesomeofthemdownNewGuineawaythateatthelate-lamentedhimself,justbywayofalasttidyup.Well,ofallthefuneralfeastsonthisearth,Isupposetheonewearetakin’isthequeerest."
"Thestrangethingis,"saidMrs.Challenger,"thatIfinditimpossibletofeelgriefforthosewhoaregone.TherearemyfatherandmotheratBedford.
