"
His face was still painful next morning, but as he sat at breakfast in
the small kitchen he was able to refer to Mr. Ricketts in terms which
were an eloquent testimony to Mr. Purnip's teaching. Mrs. Billing,
unable to contain herself, wandered off into the front room with a
duster.
"Are you nearly ready to go?" she inquired, returning after a short
interval.
"Five minutes," said Mr. Billing, nodding. "I'll just light my pipe and
then I'm off."
"'Cos there's two or three waiting outside for you," added his wife.
Mr. Billing rose. "Ho, is there?" he said, grimly, as he removed his
coat and proceeded to roll up his shirt-sleeves. "I'll learn 'em. I'll
give 'em something to wait for. I'll----"
His voice died away as he saw the triumph in his wife's face, and,
drawing down his sleeves again, he took up his coat and stood eyeing her
in genuine perplexity.
"Tell 'em I've gorn," he said, at last.
"And what about telling lies?" demanded his wife. "What would your Mr.
Purnip say to that?"
"You do as you're told," exclaimed the harassed Mr.
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