Mr. Alcock spoke of sport, commending the pursuit of lawn tennis with the air of one who has tried everything and come to the reluctant conclusion that that pastime is a better antidote to ennui than any other.
Uncle Tom recounted a dispute which had arisen in the saloon bar of The Goat regarding elephantiasis. His narrative slid naturally enough into a vivid comparison of such cases of this complaint as had come under his notice or that of the other patrons of the saloon bar. Aunt Harriet, even more naturally, proved able and willing to supplement his list with personal experiences so distressing as to suggest that an inscrutable Providence had chosen her among women to be harrowed in this peculiar way.
May related how someone had ‘passed the remark’ that a new char-à-banc service was to be instituted between Suet and Lather, and asked Ann if she was fond of motoring.
Ann replied with enthusiasm.
“I think it’s tremendous fun.”
“D’you ’ave the Blue Fleet in Dorset?”
“I—I don’t know,” stammered Ann. “Do we, Bob?”
“Yes, dear,” said Bob. “That bounder wot ’it your coopy was one o’ the Blue Fleet.”
There was an awful silence.
“Your coopy?” said Uncle Tom.