"No, not at all. But I should like to know why you went out without telling anybody. When people are expected to dinner and fail to appear they usually give notice of the failure." "But, father, I told Machin." "I said 'anybody.' Don't you know that the whole theory of the society which you adorn is based on the assumption that Machin is nobody?" "I was called away in a frightful hurry, and you and mother were gossiping upstairs, and it's as much as one's life is worth to disturb you two when you are together." "Oh! That's news." "Besides, I should have had to argue with mother, and you know what she is." "You flatter me. I don't even know what _you_ are, and you're elementary compared to your mother." "Anyhow, I'm glad mother's in bed with a headache. I came in here trembling just now. Mother would have made such a tremendous fuss although she's perfectly aware that it's not the slightest use making a fuss.... Only makes me stupid and obstinate. Showers and showers of questions there'd have been, whereas you haven't asked a single one." "Yes, you're rather upset by my lack of curiosity. But let me just point out that it is not consistent with my paternal duty to sit here and listen to you slanging your mother. As a daughter you have vast privileges, but you mustn't presume on them. There are some things I couldn't stand from any woman without protest." "But you must admit that mother _is_ a bit awful when she breaks loose." "No. I've never known your mother awful, or even a bit awful." "You aren't being intellectually honest, dad." "I am." "Ah! Well, of course she only shows her best side to _you_." "She has no other side. In that sense she is certainly one-sided. Here! Have another." Mr. Prohack took the apple from his pocket, and threw it across the table to Sissie, who caught it. II Mr. Prohack was extremely happy; and Sissie too, in so far as concerned the chat with her father, was extremely happy. They adored each other, and they adored the awful woman laid low with a headache. Sissie's hat and cloak, which she had dropped carelessly on a chair, slipped to the floor, the hat carried away by the cloak. Mr. Prohack rose and picked them up, took them out of the room, and returned. "So now you've straightened up, and you're pleased with yourself," observed Sissie. "So now," said he. "Perhaps I may turn on my curiosity tap." "Don't," said Sissie. "I'm very gloomy. I'm very disappointed. I might burst into tears at any moment.... Yes, I'm not joking." "Out with it." "Oh, it's nothing! It's only that I saw a chance of making some money and it hasn't come off." "But what do you want to make money for?" "I like that. Hasn't mother been telling me off and on all day that something will have to be done?" "Done about what?" "About economy, naturally." Sissie spoke rather sharply. "But you don't mean your mother has spent the day in urging you to go forth and earn money!"