“You don’t look well, Botty darling,” said Mrs. Bott with concern in her voice.
“No,” said Mr. Bott in a hollow voice. “I don’t know that this treatment’s doing me any good.”
“Isn’t it, ducky?” said Mrs. Bott. “Well, I’ll try to find you a new man.”
******
That afternoon the Outlaws passed Bob. He stood outside his Lodge, hands in pockets, pipe in mouth, handsome, white-bearded, gloriously lazy.
“I’ve found a grass snake for ye, me bhoys,” he sang out, “he’s in a box in the yard beyond. Oh, an’ Bob Andrews is not goin’, me bhoys. The sack is withdrawn. Th’aud devil’s realised me value, glory be to God.”
******
That night Robert, William’s elder brother, came downstairs with his camera in his hand.
“I say,” he said, “I could have sworn I put this away with half a dozen films in.”
“When did you have it last, dear?” said his mother.