She is a little alarmed.
‘You’re sure you’ll come back?’
‘Yes, yes,’ handsomely, ‘I leave my kit in pledge.’
‘You won’t liquor up too freely, Kenneth?’
‘You’re the first,’ chuckling, ‘to care whether I do or not.’ Nothing she has said has pleased the lonely man so much as this. ‘I promise. Tod, I’m beginning to look forward to being wakened in the morning by hearing you cry, “Get up, you lazy swine.” I’ve kind of envied men that had womenfolk with the right to say that.’
He is passing to the bathroom when a diverting notion strikes him.
‘What is it, Kenneth?’
‘The theatre. It would be showier if I took a lady.’
Mrs. Dowey feels a thumping at her breast.
‘Kenneth, tell me this instant what you mean. Don’t keep me on the jumps.’