The little girl ran off, evidently highly pleased at the addition she had made to the programme for their social meeting.
Phil gripped Jim by the arm.
“Yes, shadow dearie!” said the big fellow whimsically, “what is’t?”
“Aren’t you going to cut this stuff out, Jim?”
“What? Man alive, do ye want to make a mock o’ me? Me!––cut it out and this just the first week. You managed that once, Phil, to my eternal disgrace. Don’t ye know that when I start, it means a month on the calendar––and has always meant that and always will mean–––”
“No, it won’t,” put in Phil. “Not if I know it!”
“But, Phil, the folks expect it. Ye could never disappoint the people.”
“Disappoint be-damned! Are you going to quit this right now, or not?”
“Man, ye shouldna put it like that to me,” expostulated Jim, swaying slightly as he threw his arm round by way of emphasis.