Her knowledge of monkeys was slight, but she
fancied they looked with favour on bananas. It was her intention
to conciliate Eustace.
She had placed Eustace by now. Unlike Nutty, she read the papers,
and she knew all about Lady Wetherby and her pets. The fact that
Lady Wetherby, as she had been informed by the grocer in friendly
talk, had rented a summer house in the neighbourhood made
Eustace's identity positive.
She had no very clear plans as to what she intended to do with
Eustace, beyond being quite resolved that she was going to board
and lodge him for a few days. Nutty had had the jolt he needed,
but it might be that the first freshness of it would wear away, in
which event it would be convenient to have Eustace on the
premises. She regarded Eustace as a sort of medicine. A second
dose might not be necessary, but it was as well to have the
mixture handy. She took another banana, in case the first might
not be sufficient. She then returned to the porch.
Eustace was sitting on the hammock, brooding. The complexities of
life were weighing him down a good deal. He was not aware of
Elizabeth's presence until he found her standing by him. He had
just braced himself for flight, when he perceived that she bore
rich gifts.
Eustace was always ready for a light snack--readier now than
usual, for air and exercise had sharpened his appetite.
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