| Show I t tI t. t j illS HIS said Mrs Iti T Glibber Glibber- JI I herself against the kitchen mant mantel mantelPiece mantelpiece l Piece with her lc left t hand and rain ram min riling ming the kettle into tho centre of th the fire with he be her right is a corker itA A A fair knockout I call caU it t said eaid her husband S IS he pulled his armchair up to the I I dont don't e see e what there is to make such a I fuss luss about cried an nn indignant voice from the th r recess recesses cs of a cupboard The Tic owner oer of the voice withdrew her rather pretty head from the cavern wherein it had been hidden marched to the t table and put down a 1 ja jar jar of jam with a bang You got married man yourselves didn't you ou she ehe he continued turning her ber flushed face from one parent to the tho other e did miss mi replied her ber mother but we didn't spring it on people like this Y Your ur father ad bin well known to all my family for years ears before e e ever dared to say a word about mar- mar rage Really said the girl sirl scornfully Her father whose mouth was now full of toast worked his bis jaws S at a frantic pace paco in order to b bable be beable able to give si a fitting answer but before he lie was WM ready for or the fray hi his hig better half balf ha hall hail taken up the gage Yes my lady a y she spluttered really Likewise Likewise Like lAke wise truly We Ve didn't do things in this under and fashion in them days The fack that your JOUI father ad ld got is eye on me inc was pereC perceived by y the rest of the family at a time tune when I never nc even suspected of it I think ed only dropped in for a family call Dear dear eaid said the girl concentrating her herC C gaze upon her fathers father's nose and smiling amiably amiably amia amia- bly as that o organ an deepened to a richer purple ULan titan usua usual Dear dear how bow the times do change He drops out for them now Nc Never Ncr r mind what hat he hc dO does 13 or what e doesn't miss shrilled the thc matron as her husband glared about him m in speechless wrath u Es the ed of this an when this young spark of yours what proposes es to honor us us with witha a call this evenin puts in an appearance ell probably a ave avo e something pretty strong to say eay to 10 im lint the fellers feller's name growled the reputed reputed re re- re ogre who nho had just had an nn inspiration William William Villiam wot inquired Mr Glibbery the thought of his approaching triumph lending g a touch of geniality to l his s voice William said the girl sid Ah th Ah said her father reflectively though hi hieye his hiB eye shone with mth anticipated delight Welsh Welsh r I used ter know a man named Welsh 1 E H got seven reven years ard r la labor r. r Some relation tion I 11 An untie nacle I r How did id your friend ncnd spell epen b his s name father at er inquired the lamed amsel with a delicate emphasis on the e word friend that ma made e her bar parent hand handout handout handout out signals of impending apoplexy Spell it fumed ume the victim elim Why W e of course How else would c e e spell ell it William spells his with mth an I e e at the hc end end re replied his hia daughter nonchalantly Besides e dee s she BILO 11 IC a added he comes of really respectable peo pea ra pic plc 1 Y You cu should have hare seen h how ow 8 shocked b OC k C d h ho 0 ro looked ked when told I-told him about that t time me when th the policeman brought brou ht you home in 10 such a dreadful state of of- of r l Mercifully ere Hully before she could finish h th the 0 sentence sen sea knock at tho the tence there camo came a hesitating front door j I 1 expect th that's a ts t.'s him remarked Glibbery Glib- Glib bery bevy springing to her feet and whipping 0 off oE fi th the tho 0 and and- apron she was wearing Ill so go BY DY Juu JAMES JAMrs s J. we nc know wot ot youve called about interrupted in in- 24 Mr Glibbery ry You Yon wish mah if I understand things aright eaid said Mr r Glibbery majestically to become one of the family Well ye yc stammered the visitor if li ii if you vou put it that way way way-to to a certain extent I do To a certain extent echoed the old oM gentle gentle- man My fy dear said bi his hii better half with a witheringly with with- ith sarcastic manner you aint up t ter r date You dont don't understand the ways waya of young people nowadays The young yun man i is ri sight right ht To a certain extent e c sea Quite so that's ow they looks loob on It now Taint as it Uter uster I b be when you 1 0 an m an me was courtin tin The subject of her remarks regarded her for a moment or eo so in stupefied silence d. d 71 1 I Y f 7 1 C 7 1 4 I I f fi t i 4 11 r t t r j 4 f t 1 h c h r- r J r he- he or op 1 q r 10 1 Lr Hd t rL r Jr H r- r tP r ry y 7 do o nothing of th the sort miss said sah bet bee mother severely Sit you down clown again Jimmy Jim Jim- my to my-to to a 3 pasty faced youngster who hll had hitherto hither hither- to been soli solidly ly stuffing himself with bread rca and butter go butter go and see sec sect who ho it is itS at tho the door H It Hits Hit's its it's Marys Mary's young man man t brin bring im urn ere Ere I say she continued as the girl irl opened her mouth to protest if 91 the kitching kitchin aint good goodenough goodenough enough for im e can go away again Her daughter settled fettled herself in her bel chair again with an angry shrug of her shoulders and the impassive James J ames shuffling bu fling ofT off his scat faded away into outer darkness carefully closing the door kitchen behind him The sound of his bis squeaky voice oice voice was heard beard in th the distance a. a deeper note replied to it and a a. moment later he lie reappeared in the thc doorway ushering in a n spruce good looking good looking young fellow of about twenty the girl gill shot a quick glance t a the new comer DU cud aud then with a faint smile smite flickering r round und her mouth quietly turne turned her chair to r towards s tho fire an and sat watching the thc flames The two old ld people ople sitting l bolt olt upright assumed a sternly judicial air which was evidently not without its effect upon their visitor Good said eaid that worthy nc nervously fumbling with his hat bat I I cr cr Ive I've called about about- The Thc proprietor of the establishment waved his hand pompously towards a B scat Beat No charge for sitting down he remarked ed said eaid the youth sidling into the chair indica indicated led and letting his umbrella f fall 11 with witha a ban bang on the floor I have called called- he hc repeated picking it up again and growing very cry red in lit the fac face in the tho process I I 1 I beg your pardon pardon- pardon pardon-If he lie began at last but his host interrupted him again No so offense mister no offense he be sai said with the air ail of one forgiving a mortal injury we only only only- What's that tint girl tittering at he broke off oH sharply round at his daughter whose e shoulders were gently shaking Im not tittering W was JS the thc reply uttered in a A. gave cave ave the lie to the words warda you ou eaid the angry sire Well Veil never mind if I am said the maiden You You be he-hc-he he you go on with your conversation conversation conversa conversa- tion and dont don't take an any notice of me mc Ive I've thought ht of something funny With a n look that indicated a desire to box bos her cars her father turned again l ain to the youth routh in itt whoso whose face mystification was struggling with embarrassment I spose he said that thiu things s bein being as they arc are you wont won't mind mo me asking a you OU a fe few questions about Oh no not at an all all replied the oUter other ha hastily Its Tt s the the the-the the usual thing I believe e to references ref and md go so 0 on Oil Ah Ab references and so on said lid the old gen gen- tiernan f Youre ri right ht mother to mother to his wife wife wife- ways Wars are e 8 changed V Very good then mister mister to to the visitor visitor lets lets get to business First and foremost what are arc you rou J What hat am I n exclaimed the youth what ore arc you reiterated his host hos testily your occupation tion your our sion your jour job as we u used cd to call can it in my time Oh Ob replied the other with mth an n Apolo apologetic laugh Im a clerk derk A eh ehl I eaid Mr Tr Glib Glibbery cr Hm Im I'm a y i L An pra pray may inay you be ue setting getting Meaning ng what is my salary inquired the visitor with a iL trace of ot rising temper in his voice Just eo so said nil the old gentleman your sal sal- ary What hat hat we used ter call II wages Ow V much may it be The visitor looked staggered I 1 dont don't suppose tD my soy goodsir sir interjected d the inquisitor a as ow youve you've decided on this step without coming to the conclusion as you could afford if it i but you'll admit a mit as its it's my m duty to satisfy myself on the subject afore I gives my consent Oh certainly linly certainly said the youth whose face was v. becoming redder and redder under under un un- der the strain train of suppressed indignation tion Anything anything Any thing you like to ask within reason I r shall be happy to to- to ft j The nc nut next thin thing interposed the tho head of ot th the household is your obits Arc Are they steady tc dy dr and respectable Arc Are they such BUch a as a's as would nouM to the of of- of ir I 1 thin I l t told ld you yo before burst out the v vi vis visitor ito that that I was quite willing to gi give the usual I C can ln refer you yon to my employers cr and ana to the place where I am living now or to- to 10 toI I I Prefer Raid id lid Mr Ir Glibbery severely to arsic arak th tho th questions of you OU yourself ours eIf a Df between man nan an an man mn I inquire are yo you yoi steady You replies I r take it that you yon are II I I do assented the other glaring defiantly at lii his questioner Very good goJ said aid that indi i individual Then fLeD we r comes now to item Hem number tl three Where do you OU to live 1 Where do I propose to live e echoed echo the youth in m a tone that bespoke utter Why here of course The reply broke simultaneously from both the old people No No you dont don't it ran nn None of your two t mistresses in ono one e for fOT me mc added the female duellist Ive 10 seen nil nU that game tried afore now and it dont don't answer You YU find a pl place for me rae jun young friend I I-I i l don dont don't t understand you stammered t the visitor tor lIo Ifo dont don't you said the lady t grimly l you you'd d better mako a lieffort to te for therell there'll be no bis ness done till tm d does doeu you When you OU an and May gets geta eta married sets you up a orae orne fer yourselves your your- selves an nn that's flat Dati When I and who Wh get bet married exclaimed claimed the youth You and May tray replied the matron you OU an my daughter eve ere pointing with her thumb at the tte damsel in in front of tho the fire Dont glower at er er like that man Anyone might think you'd never seed er cr afore The perspiring individual whom sho she was as addressing addressing ad ad- dressing rose to hi bj hn feet stood staring at her for a moment or two to with utter bewilderment written on his face and then turned towards the door Seems t to me he ne said ald over r his aw shoulder i that youre you're both mad I wish you good-good good evening With that he m marched from the room stumbling along the dark dork pae passage ng and a a. couple of seconds later there came the sound o of the front door being violently slammed Wen Well exclaimed Mrs l Glibbery of all aU the the- young puppies added her hui hui- band aa as she paused in search of a a. satisfactory term So So that's your sweetheart rt he be went on addressing his daughter who seemed emed to b ba be hiv hay in ing trouble with her ber respiratory organs My Ty wh what gurgled the girl cy Your Tour our sweetheart said aid the old gentleman Your lour flame your jour or whatever th the fancy name is that you call caU em cm by nowadays f I suppose you'd be surprised to hear that 1 have nave never set eyes on him in m my life me before said Enid Miss Mies Glibber Glibbery pulling herself together with witha a violent effort What chorused the couple What he thinks of you OU goodness only kno knows went on the maiden severely askin asking him all those questions and him a 1 perfect t stranger to all aU of us But aint c the young youns man rain as wants to marry marry mar mar- ry you said aid Mrs s. Glibbery faintly Certainly not replied plied her daug daughter ter frowning frowning frown frown- ing sternly at her parent I just told you ou Ive I've never neer seen him before toni tonight ht IIo How you could coul talk to him bim like that without w even bein being introduced is a mystery to me roe With an 10 air nil of deeply deep offended propriety sho she poured out a fresh cup oi of tea for herself anI and sat Rat slowly sipping it while the all old folks looked looke at atone atone atone one another in e consternation Presently Mr 11 I Glibbery ry broke broko the silence Well Tell oo 00 was c e then j if c 0 wasn't W oo 00 we thou thought c a was he said eaid fc feebly lr The Tho c. c canto came from froni raster Master Homes dame wo bo bad had been eating enting away gway liko clockwork through throughout hout h- h out the proceedings E 13 come about the thc apartments r remarked that interesting youngster U l E 13 jil as ns ow w Mrs Garrett over o-er the thc un way ad told toM im urn you youa ad atla a bedroom to l let t and e wanted ed t to know 0 wot O Othe the terms term were BO so I showed urn im un mAn in m. m An why didn't you explain all tins tin's afore afore inquired Jimmys Jimmy's papa with ith n a looT look in his hia eye eFt that boded ill for Jimmys Jimmy's comfort You didn't give io me no to snuffled d his son sidling towards the door loor You started on im yourself W Tout askin roe me Wot e wanted or anything ie Ai-ie you ou me not ter speak till Im I'm spoken t ter r be be continued his Jis voice rising to a l protesting shriek as aJ lu Ins his hand band found the knob of the door Aint u. you told me bout forty thousand million times to to- to bout About two seconds later he was flying u upstairs upstairs up up- stairs like a suddenly released b balloon with mth hi his sire re in close pursuit |
