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Minnie's voice came happily to dissolve the situation. "'Ello, Elfrid!" she said from the doorstep. Her hair was just passably tidy, and she was a little effaced by a red blouse, but there was no mistaking the genuine brightness of her welcome. He was to come in to tea, and Mrs. Larkins, exuberantly genial in a floriferous but dingy flannel dressing gown, appeared to confirm that.
Little dog outside.... Miriam ready?" "What for?" "To go and meet Annie." Mrs. Larkins stared at him. "You're stopping for a bit of supper?" "If I may," said Mr. Polly. "You're a rum un," said Mrs. Larkins, and called: "Miriam!" Minnie appeared at the door of the room looking infinitely perplexed. "There ain't a little dog anywhere, Elfrid," she said. Mr. Polly passed his hand over his brow.
"I had a most curious sensation. Felt exactly as though something was up somewhere. That's why I said Little Dog. All right now." He bent down and pinched his bicycle tire. "You was saying something about a cat, Elfrid," said Minnie. "Give you one," he answered without looking up. "The very day my shop is opened." He straightened himself up and smiled reassuringly. "Trust me," he said.
No shadow fell upon the agreeable excitement of his mind until he faced the anxious and reproachful face of Johnson, who had been sitting up for him, smoking and trying to read the odd volume of "Purchas his Pilgrimes," about the monk who went into Sarmatia and saw the Tartar carts. "Not had an accident, Elfrid?" said Johnson. The weakness of Mr. Polly's character came out in his reply.
"No foreseeing little accidentulous misadventures," he said, "none whatever." "Stout elderly gentleman shirt sleeves large straw wastepaper basket sort of hat starts to cross the road going to the oil shop prodic refreshment of oil can " "Don't say you run 'im down," said Mrs. Larkins, gasping. "Don't say you run 'im down, Elfrid!" "Run 'im down! Not me, Madam. I never run anything down. Wabble.
For a moment she regarded him with suspicion and a faint hostility, and then recognition dawned in her eyes. "Why!" she said, "it's cousin Elfrid!" "Thought I'd look you up," he said. "Fancy! you coming to see us like this!" she answered. They stood confronting one another for a moment, while Miriam collected herself for the unexpected emergency. "Explorations menanderings," said Mr.
"Well, you and me, Miriam, in a little shop with a cat and a canary " He tried too late to get back to a hypothetical note. "Just suppose it!" "You mean," said Miriam, "you're in love with me, Elfrid?" What possible answer can a man give to such a question but "Yes!"
"Nicer girls no one ever 'ad though I say it who shouldn't." Mrs. Johnson in a shrill clear hospitable voice: "Harold, won't Mrs. Larkins 'ave a teeny bit more fowl?" Mr. Polly rising to the situation. "Or some brawn, Mrs. Larkins?" Catching Uncle Pentstemon's eye: "Can't send you some brawn, sir?" "Elfrid!" Loud hiccup from Uncle Pentstemon, momentary consternation followed by giggle from Annie.
I'm not a bit tidy I know, but I do like to 'ave a go in at things now and then. You got to take us as you find us, Elfrid. Mercy we wasn't all out." She paused. She was talking against time. "I am glad to see you again," she repeated. "Couldn't keep away," said Mr. Polly gallantly. "Had to come over and see my pretty cousins again." Miriam did not answer for a moment. She coloured deeply.
It seemed but an instant, but she was changed; the arms had vanished into sleeves, the apron had gone, a certain pleasing disorder of the hair had been at least reproved. "I didn't mean to shut you out," she said, coming out upon the step. "I just told Ma. How are you, Elfrid? You are looking well. I didn't know you rode a bicycle. Is it a new one?" She leaned upon his bicycle.
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