"What I want to know is, what the deuce you two have been sitting out on that blessed seat all night for? Why couldn't you come in like rational beings and sit in chairs and talk?"
"Never you mind, Dick; don't ask questions. Have some more soup?"
"Oh, you can't stop my mouth with soup! I have been kept without food for so long that I'm afraid to eat much! I expect it was some of that tommy-rot Prince Charlie was always flooding my ears with. About your eyes and hair and——"
"Now, Dick," interrupted Masters, "drop that please. It is a forbidden subject."
"Is it? I am not to talk about what you said?" He turned to his sister and continued: "What have you had to say then, Sis? Been telling him how you begged and prayed of me not to let him——"
"Dick! If you don't be quiet, I'll never forgive you!"
"Now, look here." Dick assumed an aggrieved tone. "Am I supposed not to talk at all? Is this house run on the silent system? I might just as well be having dinner in a deaf and dumb asylum."
"Talk sensibly then," said his sister patronisingly, "and we'll listen to you with pleasure."
"We! Oh, it's reached that stage, has it: plural! 'M very well. Let's take up a serious subject: horribly serious. Have you lunatics decided when your two throbbing hearts are going to be merged into one; when you are to be married?"
"Dick! Don't you want—let me pass you some more vegetables!"