"The whole world may see me—let me go and find him!" It was as if this Jeffries struggled to break away there and then.
"No, no—sit still—leave it to me, and keep your face before this weeping woman—I was born where they understand these things!"
And after a hellish minute—the voice of that one prevailed.
I turned to Kitty.
"Good gracious!" I remember I said, with an air almost of amused incredulity. "Why, who on earth told you that ridiculous tale?"
The one who came from the place where they understand these things was right. Kitty looked up. At first she seemed unable to believe her ears—unable to believe that I could treat the monstrous thing with amused disdain. Then, as she slowly realised, her face shone. She gave a quick glad cry.
"Jeff!"
"What, dear?" I said, smiling.
She choked. "Oh ... my good, big man!"
("Laugh now," the wicked one prompted; and I laughed.)