Miss Cross to Miss Orty (in continuation of an interrupted anecdote). Yes, I said it to him just like that—it made me so wild!
Miss Orty. I shouldn't have taken any notice if it had been me.
First M. M. Can you oblige me with six stamps, if you please?
[Miss Orty, without looking at him, opens drawer, tears off six stamps, and tosses them contemptuously underneath the screen.
Second Mild Man. Oh, I beg your pardon, I just called in to inquire—— (Miss C. and Miss O. regard him stonily, which has effect of disconcerting him to some extent). I—I ... there were some books I sent off by Parcels Post from this Office the other day ... you may remember it?—they were all in white wrappers. (Miss C. and Miss O. wear the resigned look of people who feel themselves in for a dull story.) Some of my friends, er—I have been given to understand, that two of the parcels have—well, failed to arrive as yet.... Could you kindly——
Miss O. to Miss C. (with lifted eyebrows). Know anything about the books?
Miss C. shakes her head in scornful repudiation, whereupon Miss Orty selects a printed form, which she jerks towards Second M. M. Fill up that, and send it in to the Postmaster-General.
Second M. M. But are you quite sure they have not been mislaid here? You see they are small books, and it struck me perhaps—er——
Miss O. Any remarks you have to make can be put in the form.
Second M. M. Quite so—but if you could only tell me——