“Shall I make a lump charge on this journey,” he said, “or put down the separate items? Better be exact,” he muttered, and he carefully wrote down,—
“Doctor’s fees, twenty guineas; lunch for doctor, one guinea.”
“Always as well to be correct,” he muttered, as he replaced his pencil in the book, and drew round the elastic band with a snap. “How am I to know about how she is going on? By jingo!”
He started, so sudden was the apparition of the woman, who flung open the door, and closed it loudly, being evidently in a fierce fit of excitement and rage.
“Where is my hosband?” she cried, speaking in a low voice, and through her teeth.
Gellow beckoned her to the window, and pointed out to where The Fair Star was careening over, with a pleasant breeze sending her rapidly through the water.
“He is dere,” she said, watching the yacht through her half-closed eyes.
“Yes, he’s off. Gave me the slip while I was helping you. By jingo, ma’am, you had a narrow escape.”
“And you came down here to reveal him I was coming,” she said, turning upon him suddenly, with her eyes widely open and flashing.
“Come, I like that,” he replied, with cool effrontery. “How the dickens should I know that you were coming down here?”