"Mr. Beamish. I mean, Jimmy?"
Hamilton Beamish drew a deep breath. And so overcome was he with sudden joy that for the first time since he had reached years of discretion he drew it through the mouth.
"At last!" he cried.
"What did you say?"
"I said 'At last!' Since you went away every minute has seemed an hour."
"So it has to me."
"Do you mean that?" breathed Hamilton Beamish fervently.
"Yes. That's the way minutes do seem in East Gilead."
"Oh, ah, yes," said Mr. Beamish, a little damped. "When did you get back?"
"A quarter of an hour ago."