Scratch, scratch, the pink cheek flag deepening with pleasure.
“On my return I go through a short course of exercises for the muscles, answer a few letters while I am cooling down, and then breakfast.”
“It must be eleven o’clock by then,” ventured Miss Bibby.
“Eleven o’clock it is,” said Hugh, after a moment’s consideration.
“And for breakfast,” said Miss Bibby. “Do you—do you eat ordinary things? It would be so interesting to know.”
Hugh was about to instance eggs and bacon in exaggerated quantities, when he realized that they were much too gross for such a paper. So he shook his head.
“I attribute my perfect health and clear and active brain solely to the cautions I observe with my diet,” he said slowly. “No meat, no drinking at meals, no bread, no puddings. There are excellent substitutes,” he picked up negligently from his desk a small packet that had been sent—an advertisement sample—to him by the morning’s post, and had not yet been disposed of.
[p110]
Miss Bibby wrote on, glowing with fellow-feeling.
“In conclusion,” he added, “I am a strict teetotaler, and I never smoke.”
Then it occurred to him “Greenways” might have seen the red end of a cigar on the “Tenby” verandah, and he added, “except an occasional cigar under medical orders.”