"You already have, lady," the young man returned peevishly. "You've probably ruined it forever."
"I've done you a service then!" Toffee barked. "You should be glad to be rid of the ugly thing."
"Aw, lady," the fellow protested. "Is that any way to talk?"
"It's one way," Toffee retorted, and apparently anxious to have an end to the matter, she silently delivered a jabbing blow to the young man's stomach.
"Oof!" was her victim's singular comment, and he immediately released her to clutch at the damaged section.
Toffee pivoted and strode into the room with queenly elegance.
"That," she announced with emphasis, "is no gentleman."
The doctor looked at her and smiled.
"Apparently you got the wrong door," he said. "Do you like my laboratory?"
"It looked like a bathroom to me," Toffee snapped. "And don't rub it in, atom brain. If I'd got out the other way, you'd be plenty washed up by the time I got through with you. Make no mistake about that!"