“Oh, yes. I’m favoured. I pay a state visit every day. Think of that! I sit in a chair at the other end of the room while Mrs. Porter stands between to see that I don’t start anything. Bill plays with his sterilized bricks. Occasionally he and I exchange a few civil words. It’s as jolly and sociable as you could want. We have great times.”
“Say, on the level, I wonder you stand for it.”
“I’ve got to stand for it.”
“He’s your kid.”
“Not exclusively. I have a partner, Steve.”
Steve snorted dolefully.
“Ain’t it hell the way things break loose in this world!” he sighed. “Who’d have thought two years ago——”
“Do you make it only two? I should have put it at about two thousand.”
“Honest, squire, if any one had told me then that Miss Ruth had it in her to take up with all these fool stunts——”
“Well, I can’t say I was prepared for it.”