Persis was jarred a trifle, but her only comment was: "Why is it that when men are feeling ugly they always come home early?"
Willie threw her a look of wrath and turned to his distressed mother. "Won't you stop to dinner?"
"Not when there's so much war-paint visible, thanks!"
"But hang it all—" Willie began, and checked himself, for Crofts shuffled through the room. Willie rounded on him. "Oh, somebody at last, eh? Why the deuce was no one at the door? I had to let myself in."
Crofts cupped his hand behind his ear, and crackled, "Beg pardon, sir?"
"I had to let myself in, I say."
"Very sorry, sir, but owing to Dobbs' wedding and your early dinner, sir, the servants have a great deal to do."
"But I rang and rang!" Willie stormed, and repeated, wrathfully, "I rang and rang!"
"Very sorry, indeed, sir," Crofts pleaded. "My hearing isn't as good as it was when I entered your father's service."
"Well, I won't have my house turned into a—an infirmary."