“Pat nearly lost his life trying to scramble off the top of a ’bus in time to pick them up for you. As far as I can make out, when he arrived on the scene a gay Lothario and a wonderful Diana were in possession of the field, and he thought well to decamp, and nearly broke his neck over again boarding another ’bus, with his eyes occupied in the wrong direction.” “Tell Mr O’Connor he shouldn’t tell tales out of school.” “Is it the tomato incident that is making you cross?” “I’m not cross.” “Well, of course I can’t contradict you, but, like the parrot, I can still think a lot.” “I shouldn’t if I were you. The unusual strain may hurt your brain.” “Whew—as bad as all that, is it? No letter from Africa this mail, I suppose?” Paddy preserved a contemptuous silence. “Too bad,” said Basil. “What’s too bad?” said Paddy. “Your last attempt at a joke?” “The pater’s getting anxious.” he went on without heading her. “He’s sitting in there,” nodding toward the surgery, “strung up to an awful pitch of nervousness lest you should be blind with—er—well, we’ll call it annoyance, and poison someone by accident.” “Go away,” said Paddy. “I’ve nowhere to go.” “Go and look for a picture book to keep you quiet.” “Don’t be a silly kid, Paddy,” persuasively. “What’s the matter? I’ve a strong right arm you can command as you wish. Do you want someone hit?” “No.” “Well, let, me help anyway. I’ll wrap up the bottles for you.” She demurred, but he finally ensconced himself on a high stool beside her and presently talked her into a better humour, afterward going home with her, which was really rather kind of him after the manner of his reception. Three days later, Paddy received a most affectionate letter from Doreen Blake, begging her to come to tea, as she was quite alone. “Mother and Kathleen are slaying in Eastbourne,” she wrote, “as Kathleen has been ill, and I had to remain in London because I had accepted so many invitations. Miss Wells is here to look after the house, but you and I can have a long, cosy chat all to ourselves. If you don’t come I shall be dreadfully disappointed and hurt. I want to hear all about the dispensing and everything.” As Doreen had always been Paddy’s special chum, there was nothing unusual in Eileen being left out of the invitation, but Paddy tried to make it an excuse not to go. Her mother would not hear of it, however. “I want you to go, dear,” she said, “because I like Mrs Blake and Doreen and Kathleen very much, and if they are going to remain in town for the season it will be nice for you to go and see them sometimes while Eileen and I are away.”