"—we will not send the letter, but will put it away until we've finished our boiling-over and have simmered down."
"Francesca," I said, "am I not going to be allowed to communicate to this so-called railway company my opinion of its conduct? Are all the pearls of sarcasm with which my mind is teeming to be thrown away?"
"Well," she said, "it would be useless to cast them before the Railway Executive."
"Mayn't I hint a hope that the penny-halfpenny will come in useful in a time of financial stress?"
"No," she said decisively, "you are to do none of these things. Of course they've behaved in a mean and shabby way, but they've got you fixed, and the best thing you can do is to get a postal order and send it off to Mr. Hutchinson."
"Mayn't I—"
"No, certainly not. Write a short and formal note and enclose the P.O.; and next time don't forget your ticket."
"If you'll tell me how to make sure of that," I said, "I'll vote for having a statue of you put up."
"Does everybody," she said, "forget his season-ticket?"
"Yes," I said, "everybody, at least once a year."