“What did he say?”
“Said 'e'll be down the moment 'e's dressed.”
“Nobody wants him to come before,” commented Mrs. Korner. “Answered me that he was putting on his collar when I called up to him five minutes ago.”
“Answer yer the same thing now, if yer called up to 'im agen, I 'spect,” was the opinion of the staff. “Was on 'is 'ands and knees when I looked in, scooping round under the bed for 'is collar stud.”
Mrs. Korner paused with the teapot in her hand. “Was he talking?”
“Talkin'? Nobody there to talk to; I 'adn't got no time to stop and chatter.”
“I mean to himself,” explained Mrs. Korner. “He—he wasn't swearing?” There was a note of eagerness, almost of hope, in Mrs. Korner's voice.
“Swearin'! 'E! Why, 'e don't know any.”
“Thank you,” said Mrs. Korner. “That will do, Harriet; you may go.”
Mrs Korner put down the teapot with a bang. “The very girl,” said Mrs. Korner bitterly, “the very girl despises him.”