“And then where did you go?” she pursued.
“I’m ’fraid you’ll be raather shocked,” said Mr. Price, smiling, “but I never got further than Switch’nham. Kait sairysly though, the Gov’nment took over the Dad’s plant there and not a soul knew an’thing about it. I had t’ run the whole blooming show by m’self with a handful of r’tired M’thuselahs. Awf’l shaame, I thought, digging the pwur old things out at their time ’f life. But now you have the whole sordid story ’f m’ life. Not much of a f’ller, Price, is he? I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Well, I want to be quite fair,” said Evangeline. “Have you got anything the matter with you?”
“No, sound ’s a bell,” said young Joseph.
“Well, but had you anything then?” she persisted. “Groggy arms or legs or insides?”
“Lac’ration of right forearm ’n’ elbow, received when leaving th’ theatre in state ’f intoxication during ’n air raid,” he replied, grinning at her, “also sustained loss ’f an eye and inj’ry to left ankle.”
“Honest?” she asked earnestly. “Let me look at your eye.”
“’T’s glass, but there’s nothing green in it,” said Mr. Price, holding down one eyelid, and she saw that what he said was true.
The music of the next dance began and he rose. “You dancing this?” he asked, “or c’n I get you a partner? I’m ’fraid I’ve got to trot out Miss Gainsborough. I shall keep her meuving for she caan’t talk.”
“I’ve lost my programme,” said Evangeline, “but I’m almost certain I’m dancing with some kind of a Manley, with pink eyes—— Oh, I’m sorry, I expect he is your cousin; everybody is here.”