"Then come and give me a kiss," said George.
For answer Mrs. Early tossed her head, which necessitated her husband's going round the table to kiss her. This he continued to do until his wife reversed her decision.
"And yet," said Mrs. Early, "I can't get over the feeling that something is going to happen."
George looked up with the light of intelligence in his eyes.
"What is it?" said his wife.
"Perhaps Martha's going to give notice. I've seen a soldier hanging about the front lately, and she asked me yesterday if the flats in the suburbs were very dear?"
Mrs. Early gasped, and closed her mouth ominously.
"That must be it," she said in a terrible whisper.
"Don't worry," said George; "it hasn't happened yet."
As he left for Upper Thames Street his wife told him brightly that she believed that Martha was quite safe, as she had asked to have her bedroom whitewashed at Christmas.