He rang the bell, and after a moment Mrs. Grice glided respectfully into the room, after the manner of a cardboard figure in a toy theatre. She was followed by her husband, struggling with his coat.
"'Ave you rang the bell, sir?" queried Mrs. Grice.
"Yes," said Philip. "Will you clear away, please. I want that table to-night—to write at."
During the turmoil which now ensued, Philip sat on the padded leather fire-guard and lit another pipe. Presently he said:—
"Mrs. Grice!"
Mrs. Grice, engaged in a bout of what looked like a game of catch-as-catch-can with Mr. Grice and the tablecloth, immediately extricated herself from her damask winding-sheet and came respectfully to attention.
"Sir?"
"Mrs. Grice, when you received your husband's proposal of marriage, was it by letter or word of mouth?"
Mrs. Grice, needless to say, was quite overwhelmed with maidenly confusion. Coming from Timothy, such a question as this would have surprised her not at all; for Timothy was one of those fortunate persons who may say what they like to any one. But as uttered by her grave and reserved patron Mr. Meldrum, it sounded most alarming. She replied, breathlessly:—
"Was you referring to Mr. Grice or to my first 'usband, sir?"