"Are Sidney's ears red?" asked the doctor maliciously.
Pamela caught his eye and laughed reluctantly, just as the three men came in. Colonel Sedley made his way to a chair by Mrs. Prynne and Paul walked over to shake hands with the doctor. Sidney, with his lank, blond hair carefully parted and a redness to his eyelids, occupied the center of the stage. He took a rare old chair and creaked in it, to Pamela's secret despair.
"I've just heard an awfully jolly conundrum," he said, looking a little more vacant than usual. "Why is an elephant like a brickbat?"
"Both good to kill fools, I reckon," said Colonel Sedley viciously.
Dr. Macclesfield tittered shamelessly.
"Neither of them can climb a tree," Sidney cried triumphantly.
"I hope you didn't invent that, Billop," said Van Citters languidly. "If you did, don't allow yourself many like it in one day."
"One before meals, Sidney, with a little pepsin," suggested Dr. Macclesfield.
"You know I think it's awfully good," said Sidney candidly. "One wouldn't guess it quickly; that's the main point."
"I thought my answer as good as yours," said Colonel Sedley.