Uncle Chris turned to Freddie.
“What is the matter?” he asked blankly.
“I’ll tell you what’s the jolly old matter!” cried Freddie. “The blighter isn’t going to marry poor Jill after all! He’s changed his rotten mind! It’s off!”
“Off?”
“Absolutely off!”
“Absolutely off?”
“Napoo!” said Freddie. “He’s afraid of what will happen to his blasted career if he marries a girl who’s been in the chorus.”
“But, my dear boy!” Uncle Chris blinked. “But, my dear boy! This is ridiculous … Surely, if I were to speak a word …”
“You can if you like. I wouldn’t speak to the cootie again if you paid me! But it won’t do any good, so what’s the use?”
Slowly Uncle Chris adjusted his mind to the disaster.