They used to disperse themselves for conversation, when reasonable people approach one another. They planted one in the turret at the top of the house, another at the bottom of the garden, a third and fourth, within quarrelable distance, at the drawing-room window, while the fifth remained in a distant potting-shed, and then they began; the dumb animals acting as chorus.
“Ron——ald?” (From the turret.)
“Ye——s?”
“What are you doing?”
“Wh——at?”
“Wha——t—are—you—do——ing?”
“Mending my boat.”
“Wha——t?”
“Men——ding—my—boa——t.”
“Mend——ing—your—wha——t?”