"That you should call today of all days!" moaned the perspiring Mrs Scatchard.
"Why not today?" asked her niece innocently.
"The day I'm disgraced to the neighbourhood by a 'visitor' being turned out of doors."
"I knew nothing of it," protested Miss Meakin.
"And Mr Scatchard being a government official, as you might say."
"Indeed!" remarked Mavis, who was itching to be off.
"Almost a pillar of the throne, as you might say," moaned the poor woman.
"True enough," murmured her niece.
"A man who, as you might say, has had the eyes of Europe upon him."
"Ah!" sighed Miss Meakin.