In the car Mr. Prohack said:
"Tell me something more about that paper-making business. It sounds interesting."
III
When Mr. Prohack reached his daughter's house again late in the night, it was his wife who opened the door to him.
"Good heavens, Arthur! Where have you been? Poor Sissie is in such a state—I was obliged to come over and stay with her. She needs the greatest care."
"We had a breakdown," said Mr. Prohack, rather guiltily.
"Who's we? Where? What breakdown? You went off without saying a word to any one. I really can't imagine what you were thinking about. You're just like a child sometimes."
"I went down to Southampton with Charlie," the culprit explained, giving a brief and imperfect history of the day, and adding that on the way home he had made a détour with Charles to look at a paper-manufactory.
"And you couldn't have telephoned!"
"Never thought of it!"