"Evangeline," I said, "listen. Hallo, hallo, hallo, hallo." I stopped a moment and went on more slowly. "Hallo—hallo—hallo."
It was dull work.
"Hallo," I said, "hallo—hallo—hallo," and then very distinctly, "Hal-lo."
Evangeline looked at me with an utterly bored face.
"Hallo," I said, "hallo—hallo."
She picked up a monkey-nut and ate it languidly.
"Hallo," I went on, "hallo, hallo ... hallo, hallo, HALLO, HALLO ... hallo, hallo——"
She dropped her nut and roused herself for a moment.
"Number engaged," she snapped, and took another nut.