"It may seem selfishness on my part, but I'm not quite happy. I have just heard news which, if you will excuse my saying so, has rather given me a facer."
"If I will excuse you saying so! Dear me, how ceremonious we are! Is the news public, or private property?"
"Who do you think is coming?"
"Coming? Where? Here?" I nodded. "I have not the most remote idea. How should I have?"
"It is some one who has something to do with you."
Until then she had taken it uncommonly easily on the couch. When I said that, she sat up with quite a start.
"Something to do with me? Mr. Kempster! What do you mean? Who can possibly be coming here who has anything to do with me?"
"May, can't you guess?"
"Guess! How can I guess? What do you mean?"
"It's your mother."