Carver looked at the man aghast.
Mr. Stott was very drunk!
XXXV
Eline Simpson with a large handkerchief tied round her face, turned on her bed and groaned. It was unfortunate for all concerned that Eline’s bedroom was immediately above that occupied by Mr. John Stott and his wife, although Eline’s groans had no serious effect upon that lady.
Mr. Stott had reached the stage where he waited with agonized expectancy for the next boom of anguish; when it did not come he was frantic, when it finally shivered the walls of his room, he was maddened. Eline was an irregular groaner.
“Eline goes tomorrow!” he roared, and even Mrs. Stott heard him.
“She’s had her tooth out,” said Mrs. Stott sleepily.
“Go upstairs and tell that girl to get up and walk about—no, no, not to walk about, to sit still.”
“M’m,” said Mrs. Stott, and sighed happily.
Mr. Stott glared at her and then came another groan from above. He got out of bed and into his dressing-gown—it was really a kimono—and trotted up the stairs.