Miriam turned towards the small sallow eager face and met the kind sweet
intent blue glint of the eyes. She explained and Mrs. Orly's anxious
little face broke into a smile that dispelled the lines on the broad
strip of low forehead leaving it smooth and sallow under the smoothly
brushed brown hair.
"How funny" said Mrs. Orly hurriedly. "I was just comin' out to ask you
the name of that singer. You know. Mark something. Marksy...."
"Mar-kaysie" said Miriam.
"That's it. I can't think how you remember." Mrs. Orly disappeared and
the two voices broke out again in eager chorus. Miriam returned to her
tin. Mastering her disgust she removed the plate from the box, shook the
cotton-wool out into the paper-basket collected fresh wool, packing
paper, sealing wax, candle and matches and set to work to make up the
parcel. She would have to attack the workshop again and get them to take
it out. Perhaps they would know the address. When the case was half
packed she looked up the patient's name in the ledger. Five entries in
about as many years--either repairs or springs--how simple dentistry
became when people had lost all their teeth. There were two addresses, a
town and a country one written in a long time ago in ink; above them
were two in pencil, one crossed out. The newest of the address books
showed these two addresses, one in ink, neither crossed out. What had
become of the card and letter that came with the case? In the den with
Mrs. Orly and her guest....
Footsteps were coming neatly and heavily up the basement stairs.
Winthrop. He came in smiling, still holding his long apron gathered up
to free his knees. "Ph--Ph--Major Moke's case ready?" he whispered
cheerfully.
"Almost--but I don't know the address."
"It's the ph--ph--_Buck_inam Palace Otel. It's to go by hand."
"Oh, thank goodness" laughed Miriam sweeping the scissors round the
uneven edge of the wrapping paper.
"My _word_" said Winthrop, "What an eye you've got I couldn't do that to
ph-save melife and I'm supposed to be a ph-mechanic."
"Have I," said Miriam surprised, "I shan't be two minutes; it'll be
ready by the time anybody's ready to go. But the letters aren't."
"All right. I'll send up for them when we go out to lunch," said
Winthrop consolingly, disappearing.