XXX

An Urgent Summons

Loraine, playing with a small and delectable puppy, was somewhat surprised when Bundle rejoined her after an absence of twenty minutes, in a breathless state and with an indescribable expression on her face.

“Whoof,” said Bundle, sinking on to a garden seat. “Whoof.”

“What’s the matter?” asked Loraine, looking at her curiously.

“George is the matter⁠—George Lomax.”

“What’s he been doing?”

“Proposing to me. It was awful. He spluttered and he stuttered, but he would go through with it⁠—he must have learnt it out of a book, I think. There was no stopping him. Oh, how I hate men who splutter! And, unfortunately, I didn’t know the reply.”

“You must have known what you wanted to do.”

478