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。"