Out of Context

I thought we were done with all the Thornton W. Burgess books, but I still had a gecko supply me with a title.

McTeague
Frank Norris

“I know, I know,” answered her husband. “But I got a new patient this week, had two molars and an upper incisor filled at the very first sitting, and he’s going to bring his children round. He’s a barber on the next block.”

“Well you pay half, then,” said Trina. “It’ll cost three or four dollars at the very least; and mind, the Heises pay their own fare both ways, mac, and everybody gets their OWN lunch. Yes,” she added, after a pause, “I’ll write and have Selina join us. I haven’t seen Selina in months. I guess I’ll have to put up a lunch for her, though,” admitted Trina, “the way we did last time, because she lives in a boarding-house now, and they make a fuss about putting up a lunch.”

They could count on pleasant weather at this time of the year–it was May–and that particular Tuesday was all that could be desired. The party assembled at the ferry slip at nine o’clock, laden with baskets. The McTeagues came last of all; Ryer and his wife had already boarded the boat. They met the Heises in the waiting-room.