"Hallo," I said, "hallo—hallo—hallo," and then very distinctly, "Hal-lo."
Evangeline looked at me with an utterly bored face.
"Hallo," I said, "hallo—hallo."
She picked up a monkey nut and ate it languidly.
"Hallo," I went on, "hallo, hallo ... hallo, hallo, HALLO, HALLO ... hallo, hallo—"
She dropped her nut and roused herself for a moment.
"Number engaged," she snapped, and took another nut.
You needn't believe this. The others didn't when I told them.
A.A.M.