“What horrid Smith? I don’t know any such person. If you mean Mr. Achilles Smith, why, he didn’t tell me anything. I have not seen him.”
“Poor Major Dunwoody has had his arm shot off.”
“What! Not another limb lost! Why, the man is falling apart in sections.”
“And that’s not the worst of it.”
“Not the worst? Why, my child, what do you mean?”
“His other leg has been amputated.”
“Humph! Well, that’s agreeable news. No legs and only one arm. Pity they didn’t amputate his head at once. I suppose, of course, you will break your engagement?”
“Oh, mother! How can you be so unkind?”
“Pandora M’Duffy, you must be insane. Marry a man with only one limb. How is he going to waddle around? Do you intend to carry him under your arm, in a bundle?”
“He will go on wheels, of course,” said Pandora with brimming eyes.