The following day he had lunch with Connie and Hilda, at some discreet place.

“It’s a very great pity it’s such an ugly situation all round,” said Hilda.

“I had a lot o’ fun out of it,” said he.

“I think you might have avoided putting children into the world until you were both free to marry and have children.”

“The Lord blew a bit too soon on the spark,” said he.

“I think the Lord had nothing to do with it. Of course, Connie has enough money to keep you both, but the situation is unbearable.”

“But then you don’t have to bear more than a small corner of it, do you?” said he.

“If you’d been in her own class.”

“Or if I’d been in a cage at the Zoo.”