“That won't be necessary. I'll go get Kedzie.”
“Kedzie? I thought her name was Anita.”
“That was her stage name—her film name.”
“Oh! And her name wasn't Adair, either, perhaps?”
“No, it was—er—Thropp!”
“Oh!” She wanted to say “What a pretty name!” to make it easier for him, but she could not arrange the words on her tongue. She asked, instead, “Is she American?”
“American? I should say so! Born in Missouri.”
Another “Oh!” from the mother.
Jim swallowed a bit more of quinine and made his escape, saying:
“You're as fine as they make 'em, mother. I won't be gone long.”