“Mummie,” asked the child interestedly, following the Sausage Chappie with his eyes as the latter disappeared towards the kitchen, “why has that man got such a funny face?”
“Hush, darling.”
“Yes, but why HAS he?”
“I don’t know, darling.”
The child’s faith in the maternal omniscience seemed to have received a shock. He had the air of a seeker after truth who has been baffled. His eyes roamed the room discontentedly.
“He’s got a funnier face than that man there,” he said, pointing to Archie.
“Hush, darling!”
“But he has. Much funnier.”
In a way it was a sort of compliment, but Archie felt embarrassed. He withdrew coyly into the cushioned recess. Presently the Sausage Chappie returned, attended to the needs of the woman and the child, and came over to Archie. His homely face was beaming.
“Say, I had a big night last night,” he said, leaning on the table.