“’IM?” SHRIEKED THE WOMAN. “NEVER SEED ’IM
BEFORE.”
“What’ve you bin doin’ of to ’im?” she said indignantly, “’e ’adn’t lorst it when ’e left ’ome this mornin’. Where is ’e, anyway?”
Silently the doctor stepped on to one side, revealing William.
“Here he is,” he said pompously.
“’Im?” she shrilled. “Never seed ’im before.”
“She’s lost hers too,” said William without flinching.
They stared at each other for some seconds in silence. Then William saw the real house boy coming along the road and spoke with the hopelessness of one who surrenders himself to fate to do its worst with.
“Here he is.”
The real original house boy was stepping blithely down the road, an extemporised rod over his shoulders, swinging precariously a jar full of minnows. He was evidently ignorant of the flight of time. He saw William first and called out cheerfully:
“I say, I’ve not been long, have I? Is it all right?”