Jungle and Stream; Or, the Adventures of Two Boys in Siam — George Manville Fenn

"Charlie is my darling, my darling, my darling " was sung in a good, clear, boyish tenor, and then the singer stopped, to say impatiently, - "What nonsense it is My head seems stuffed full of Scotch songs, -'Wee bit sangs, ' as the doctor calls them. Seems funny that so many Scotch people should come out here to the East. I suppose it's because the Irish all go to the West, that they may get as far apart as they can, so that there may not be a fight. I say, though, I want my breakfast." The speaker, to wit Harry Kenyon, sauntered up to the verandah of the bungalow and looked in at the window of the cool, shaded room, where a man-servant in white drill jacket and trousers was giving the finishing touches to the table. "Breakfast ready, Mike?" "Yes, sir; coffee's boiled, curry's made." "Curry again?" "Yes, Master Harry; curry again. That heathen of a cook don't believe a meal's complete without curry and rice." "But I thought we were going to have fried fish this morning." "So did I, sir. I told him plainly enough; but he won't understand, and he's curried the lot." "How tiresome " "I should like to curry his hide, Master Harry, but it's leather-coloured already. Never mind; there's some fresh potted meat." "Bother potted meat I'm sick of potted meat. Look here, next time I bring home any fresh fish you go into the kitchen and cook them yourself."