‘Master of the pianoforte,’ I answered at once.
He smiled, suddenly appeased, and put his foot unsteadily on the doormat.
‘Good!’ he said. ‘But, un’stan’, I wouldn’t ev’n have pu’ foot on doormat—no, not ev’n on doormat—’
And he came in, and I shut the door, and I was alone with my wild beast.
‘Kiss me,’ he commanded.
I kissed him on the mouth.
‘You don’t put your arms roun’ me,’ he growled.
So I deposited the candle on the floor, and put my arms round his neck, standing on tip-toe, and kissed him again.
He went past me, staggering and growling, into the sitting-room at the end of the passage, and furiously banged down the lid of the piano, so that every cord in it jangled deafeningly.
‘Light the lamp,’ he called out.