To his horror he saw Emmeline being launched across the lawn to him by Frederica. Emmeline wore a super-sweet expression and carried in her hand a bunch of roses. She laid them on the bath-chair with an artless and confiding smile.
“Dear, Great great Uncle George,” she said in her squeaky little voice. “We’re all so glad to see you and love you so much an’——”
The elders were watching the tableau with proud smiles, and William was summoning his breath for a really ferocious growl when suddenly everyone turned round. A little old man, purple with anger, had appeared running up the drive.
******
“Where is he?” screamed the little old man in fury. “They said he came in here—my bath-chair—where is he?—the thief—the blackguard—how dare he?—I’ll teach him—where is he?”
William did not wait to be taught. With admirable presence of mind he tore off his wrappings, flung away his horn spectacles, and dashed with all his might through the opening in the hedge and across the back lawn. The little old man caught up a trowel that the gardener had left near a bed and flung it after William. It caught him neatly on the ankle and changed his swift flight to a limp.
“Dear Uncle George,” cooed Frederica to the old man. “I don’t know what’s happened, but I always said you could walk quite well if you liked.”
With a howl of fury the old man turned on her, snatched up the bowl of fruit salad and emptied it over her.
Meanwhile the muscular young medical student had overtaken William just as he was disappearing through the gate and in spite of William’s struggles was administering fairly adequate physical correction.... Occasionally Nemesis did overtake William.
******