XII + 

Ten days later Adam bought some flowers at the corner of Wigmore Street and went to call on Miss Runcible at her nursing home. He was shown first into the matronтАЩs room. She had numerous photographs in silver frames and a very nasty fox terrier. She smoked a cigarette in a greedy way, making slight sucking noises. + 

тАЬJust taking a moment off in my den,тАЭ she explained. тАЬDown, Spot, down. But I can see youтАЩre fond of dogs,тАЭ she added, as Adam gave Spot a halfhearted pat on the head. тАЬSo you want to see Miss Runcible? Well, I ought to warn you first that she must have no kind of excitement whatever. SheтАЩs had a severe shock. Are you a relation, may I ask?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, only a friend.тАЭ + 

тАЬA very special friend, perhaps, eh?тАЭ said the Matron archly. тАЬNever mind, IтАЩll spare your blushes. Just you run up and see her. But not more than five minutes, mind, or youтАЩll have me on your tracks.тАЭ + 

There was a reek of ether on the stairs which reminded Adam of the times when, waiting to take her to luncheon, he had sat on NinaтАЩs bed while she did her face. (She invariably made him turn his back until it was over, having a keen sense of modesty about this one part of her toilet, in curious contrast to some girls, who would die rather than be seen in their underclothes, and yet openly flaunt unpainted faces in front of anyone.) + 

It hurt Adam deeply to think much about Nina. + 

Outside Miss RuncibleтАЩs door hung a very interesting chart which showed the fluctuations of her temperature and pulse and many other curious details of her progress. He studied this with pleasure until a nurse, carrying a tray of highly polished surgical instruments, gave him such a look that he felt obliged to turn away. + 

Miss Runcible lay in a high, narrow bed in a darkened room. + 

A nurse was crocheting at her side when Adam entered. She rose, dropping a few odds and ends from her lap, and said, тАЬThereтАЩs someone come to see you, dear. Now remember you arenтАЩt to talk much,тАЭ She took the flowers from AdamтАЩs hand, said, тАЬLook, what lovelies. ArenтАЩt you a lucky girl?тАЭ and left the room with them. She returned a moment later carrying them in a jug of water. тАЬThere, the thirsties,тАЭ she said. тАЬDonтАЩt they love to get back to the nice cool water?тАЭ + 

Then she went out again. + 

тАЬDarling,тАЭ said a faint voice from the bed, тАЬI canтАЩt really see who it is. Would it be awful to draw the curtains?тАЭ + 

Adam crossed the room and let in the light of the grey December afternoon. + 

тАЬMy dear, how blind-making. There are some cocktail things in the wardrobe. Do make a big one. The nurses love them so. ItтАЩs such a nice nursing home this, Adam, only all the nurses are starved, and thereтАЩs a breathtaking young man next door who keeps putting his head in and asking how I am. He fell out of an aeroplane, which is rather grand, donтАЩt you think?тАЭ + 

тАЬHow are you feeling, Agatha?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, rather odd, to tell you the truth.тБатАКтБатАж HowтАЩs Nina?тАЭ + 

тАЬSheтАЩs got engaged to be marriedтБатАФhavenтАЩt you heard?тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, the nurses are interested in no one but Princess Elizabeth. Do tell me.тАЭ + 

тАЬA young man called Ginger.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you remember him? He came on with us after the airship party.тАЭ + 

тАЬNot the one who was sick?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, the other.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt rememberтБатАКтБатАж does Nina call him Ginger?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe asked her to.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ + 

тАЬShe used to play with him when they were children. So sheтАЩs going to marry him.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, isnтАЩt that rather sad-making for you?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm desperate about it. IтАЩm thinking of committing suicide, like Simon.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt do that, darlingтБатАКтБатАж did Simon commit suicide?тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, you know he did. The night all those libel actions started.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, that Simon. I thought you meant Simon.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhoтАЩs Simon?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe young man who fell out of the aeroplane. The nurses call him Simple Simon because itтАЩs affected his brainsтБатАКтБатАж but, Adam I am sorry about Nina. IтАЩll tell you what weтАЩll do. As soon as IтАЩm well again weтАЩll make Mary Mouse give a lovely party to cheer you up.тАЭ + 

тАЬHavenтАЩt you heard about Mary?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, what?тАЭ + 

тАЬShe went off to Monte Carlo with the Maharajah of Pukkapore.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, arenтАЩt the Mice furious?тАЭ + 

тАЬSheтАЩs just receiving religious instruction before her official reception as a royal concubine. Then theyтАЩre going to India.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow people are disappearing, Adam. Did you get that money from the drunk Major?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, he disappeared too.тАЭ + 

тАЬDтАЩyou know, all that time when I was dotty I had the most awful dreams. I thought we were all driving round and round in a motor race and none of us could stop, and there was an enormous audience composed entirely of gossip writers and gatecrashers and Archie Schwert and people like that, all shouting to us at once to go faster, and car after car kept crashing until I was left all alone driving and drivingтБатАФand then I used to crash and wake up.тАЭ + 

Then the door opened, and Miles came popping in. + 

тАЬAgatha, Adam, my dears. The time IтАЩve had trying to get in. I canтАЩt tell you how bogus they were downstairs. First I said I was Lord Chasm, and that wasnтАЩt any good; and I said I was one of the doctors, and that wasnтАЩt any good; and I said I was your young man, and that wasnтАЩt any good; and I said I was a gossip writer, and they let me up at once and said I wasnтАЩt to excite you, but would I put a piece in my paper about their nursing home. How are you, Aggie darling? I brought up some new records.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou are angelic. Do letтАЩs try them. ThereтАЩs a gramophone under the bed.тАЭ + 

тАЬThereтАЩs a whole lot more people coming to see you today. I saw them all at luncheon at MargotтАЩs. Johnny Hoop and Van and Archie Schwert. I wonder if theyтАЩll all manage to get in.тАЭ + 

They got in. + 

So soon there was quite a party, and Simon appeared from next door in a very gay dressing-gown, and they played the new records and Miss Runcible moved her bandaged limbs under the bedclothes in negro rhythm. + 

Last of all, Nina came in looking quite lovely and very ill. + 

тАЬNina, I hear youтАЩre engaged.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, itтАЩs very lucky. My papa has just put all his money into a cinema film and lost it all.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, it doesnтАЩt matter at all. My papa lost all his twice. It doesnтАЩt make a bit of difference. ThatтАЩs just one of the things one has to learn about losing all oneтАЩs money.тБатАКтБатАж Is it true that you really call him Ginger?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, yes, only, Agatha, please donтАЩt be unkind about it.тАЭ + 

And the gramophone was playing the song which the black man sang at the Caf├й de la Paix. + 

Then the nurse came in. + 

тАЬWell, you are noisy ones, and no mistake,тАЭ she said. тАЬI donтАЩt know what the matron would say if she were here.тАЭ + 

тАЬHave a chocolate, sister?тАЭ + 

тАЬOoh, chocs!тАЭ + 

Adam made another cocktail. + 

Miles sat on Miss RuncibleтАЩs bed and took up the telephone and began dictating some paragraphs about the nursing home. + 

тАЬWhat it is to have a friend in the Press,тАЭ said the nurse. + 

Adam brought her a cocktail. тАЬShall I?тАЭ she said. тАЬI hope you havenтАЩt made it too strong. Suppose it goes to my head? What would the patients think if their sister came in tiddly. Well, if youтАЩre sure it wonтАЩt hurt me, thanks.тАЭ + 

тАЬтБатАКтБатАж Yesterday I visited the Hon.┬аAgatha Runcible comma Lord ChasmтАЩs lovely daughter comma at the Wimpole Street nursing home where she is recovering from the effects of the motor accident recently described in this column stop Miss Runcible was entertaining quite a large party which includedтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Adam, handing round cocktails, came to Nina. + 

тАЬI thought we were never going to meet each other again.тАЭ + 

тАЬWe were obviously bound to, werenтАЩt we?тАЭ + 

тАЬAgathaтАЩs looking better than I expected, isnтАЩt she? What an amusing nursing home.тАЭ + 

тАЬNina, I must see you again. Come back to LottieтАЩs this evening and have dinner with me.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo.тАЭ + 

тАЬPlease.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. Ginger wouldnтАЩt like it.тАЭ + 

тАЬNina, you arenтАЩt in love with him?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, I donтАЩt think so.тАЭ + 

тАЬAre you in love with me?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt knowтБатАКтБатАж I was once.тАЭ + 

тАЬNina, IтАЩm absolutely miserable not seeing you. Do come and dine with me tonight. What can be the harm in that?тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear, I know exactly what it will mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, why not?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou see, GingerтАЩs not like us really about that sort of thing. HeтАЩd be furious.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, what about me? Surely I have first claim?тАЭ + 

тАЬDarling, donтАЩt bully. Besides, I used to play with Ginger as a child. His hair was a very pretty colour then.тАЭ + 

тАЬтБатАКтБатАж Mr.┬атАШJohnnyтАЩ Hoop, whose memoirs are to be published next month, told me that he intends to devote his time to painting in future, and is going to Paris to study in the spring. He is to be taken into the studio ofтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬFor the last time, NinaтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬWell, I suppose I must.тАЭ + 

тАЬAngel!тАЭ + 

тАЬI believe you knew I was going to.тАЭ + 

тАЬтБатАКтБатАж Miss Nina Blount, whose engagement to Mr.┬атАШGingerтАЩ Littlejohn, the well-known polo player.тБатАКтБатАж Mr.┬аSchwertтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬIf only you were as rich as Ginger, Adam, or only half as rich. Or if only you had any money at all.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell,тАЭ said the Matron, appearing suddenly. тАЬWhoever heard of cocktails and a gramophone in a concussion case? Sister Briggs, pull down those curtains at once. Out you go, the whole lot of you. Why, IтАЩve known cases die with less.тАЭ + 

Indeed, Miss Runcible was already showing signs of strain. She was sitting bolt upright in bed, smiling deliriously, and bowing her bandaged head to imaginary visitors. + 

тАЬDarling,тАЭ she said. тАЬHow too divineтБатАКтБатАж how are you?тБатАКтБатАж and how are you?тБатАКтБатАж how angelic of you all to comeтБатАКтБатАж only you must be careful not to fall out at the cornersтБатАКтБатАж ooh, just missed it. There goes that nasty Italian carтБатАКтБатАж I wish I knew which thing was which in this carтБатАКтБатАж darling, do try and drive more straight, my sweet, you were nearly into me then.тБатАКтБатАж FasterтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs all right, Miss Runcible, thatтАЩs all right. You mustnтАЩt get excited,тАЭ said the Matron. тАЬSister Briggs, run for the ice-pack quickly.тАЭ + 

тАЬAll friends here,тАЭ said Miss Runcible, smiling radiantly. тАЬFaster.тБатАКтБатАж FasterтБатАКтБатАж itтАЩll stop all right when the time comesтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

That evening Miss RuncibleтАЩs temperature went rocketing up the chart in a way which aroused great interest throughout the nursing home. Sister Briggs, over her evening cup of cocoa, said she would be sorry to lose that case. Such a nice bright girlтБатАФbut terribly excitable. + 

At ShepheardтАЩs Hotel Lottie said to Adam: + 

тАЬThat chapтАЩs been in here again after you.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat chap, Lottie?тАЭ + 

тАЬHow do I know what chap? Same chap as before.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou never told me about a chap.тАЭ + 

тАЬDidnтАЩt I dear? Well, I meant to.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat did he want?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt knowтБатАФsomething about money. Dun, I expect. Says he is coming back tomorrow.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, tell him IтАЩve gone to Manchester.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs right, dear.тБатАКтБатАж What about a glass of wine?тАЭ + 

Later that evening Nina said: тАЬYou donтАЩt seem to be enjoying yourself very much tonight.тАЭ + 

тАЬSorry, am I being a bore?тАЭ + 

тАЬI think I shall go home.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬAdam, darling, whatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тБатАКтБатАж Nina, do you ever feel that things simply canтАЩt go on much longer?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat dтАЩyou mean by thingsтБатАФus or everything?тАЭ + 

тАЬEverything.тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФI wish I did.тАЭ + 

тАЬI dare say youтАЩre rightтБатАКтБатАж what are you looking for?тАЭ + 

тАЬClothes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, Adam, what do you wantтБатАКтБатАж youтАЩre too impossible this evening.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt letтАЩs talk any more, Nina, dтАЩyou mind?тАЭ + 

Later he said: тАЬIтАЩd give anything in the world for something different.тАЭ + 

тАЬDifferent from me or different from everything?тАЭ + 

тАЬDifferent from everythingтБатАКтБатАж only IтАЩve got nothingтБатАКтБатАж whatтАЩs the good of talking?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, Adam, my dearestтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬYes?тАЭ + 

тАЬNothing.тАЭ + 

When Adam came down next morning Lottie was having her morning glass of champagne in the parlour. + 

тАЬSo your little birdтАЩs flown, has she? Sit down and have a glass of wine. That dunтАЩs been in again. I told him you was in Manchester.тАЭ + 

тАЬSplendid.тАЭ + 

тАЬSeemed rather shirty about it. Said heтАЩd go and look for you.тАЭ + 

тАЬBetter still.тАЭ + 

Then something happened which Adam had been dreading or days. Lottie suddenly said: + 

тАЬAnd that reminds me. What about my little bill?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, yes,тАЭ said Adam, тАЬIтАЩve been meaning to ask for it. Have it made out and sent up to me some time, will you?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩve got it here. Bless you, what a lot you seem to have drunk.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I do, donтАЩt I? Are you sure some of this champagne wasnтАЩt the JudgeтАЩs?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, it may have been,тАЭ admitted Lottie. тАЬWe get a bit muddled with the books now and then.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, thank you so much, IтАЩll send you down a cheque for this.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, dear,тАЭ said Lottie. тАЬSuppose you write it down here. HereтАЩs the pen, hereтАЩs the ink, and hereтАЩs a blank cheque book.тАЭ + 

(Bills are delivered infrequently and irregularly at LottieтАЩs, but when they come, there is no getting away from them.) Adam wrote out a cheque for seventy-eight pounds sixteen shillings. + 

тАЬAnd twopence for the cheque,тАЭ said Lottie. + 

And twopence, Adam added. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs a dear,тАЭ said Lottie, blotting the cheque and locking it away in a drawer. тАЬWhy, look whoтАЩs turned up. If it isnтАЩt Mr.┬аThingummy.тАЭ + 

It was Ginger. + 

тАЬGood morning, Mrs.┬аCrump,тАЭ he said rather stiffly. + 

тАЬCome and sit down and have a glass of wine, dear. Why I knew you before you were born.тАЭ + 

тАЬHullo, Ginger,тАЭ said Adam. + 

тАЬLook here, Symes,тАЭ said Ginger, looking in an embarrassed manner at the glass of champagne which had been put into his hand, тАЬI want to speak to you. Perhaps we can go somewhere where we shanтАЩt be disturbed.тАЭ + 

тАЬBless you, boys, I wonтАЩt disturb you,тАЭ said Lottie. тАЬJust you have a nice talk. IтАЩve got lots to see to.тАЭ + 

She left the parlour, and soon her voice could be heard raised in anger against the Italian waiter. + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ said Adam. + 

тАЬLook here, Symes,тАЭ said Ginger, тАЬwhat I mean to say is, what IтАЩm going to say may sound damned unpleasant, you know, and all that, but look here, you know, damn it, I mean the better man wonтБатАФnot that I mean IтАЩm the better man. WouldnтАЩt say that for a minute. And, anyway, NinaтАЩs a damn sight too good for either of us. ItтАЩs just that IтАЩve been lucky. Awful rough luck on you, I mean, and all that, but still, when you come to think of it, after all, well, look here, damn it, I mean, dтАЩyou see what I mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot quite,тАЭ said Adam gently. тАЬNow tell me again. Is it something about Nina?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, it is,тАЭ said Ginger in a rush. тАЬNina and I are engaged, and IтАЩm not going to have you butting in or thereтАЩll be hell to pay.тАЭ He paused, rather taken aback at his own eloquence. + 

тАЬWhat makes you think IтАЩm butting in?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, hang it all, she dined with you last night, didnтАЩt she, and stayed out jolly late, too.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow do you know how late she stayed out?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, as a matter of fact, you see I wanted to speak to her about something rather important, so I rang her up once or twice and didnтАЩt get an answer until three oтАЩclock.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose you rang her up about every ten minutes?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh no, damn it, not as often as that,тАЭ said Ginger. тАЬNo, no, not as often as that. I know it sounds rather unsporting and all that, but you see I wanted to speak to her, and, anyway, when I did get through, she just said she had a pain and didnтАЩt want to talk: well, I mean to say. After all, I mean, one is a gentleman. It isnтАЩt as though you were just a sort of friend of the family, is it? I mean, you were more or less engaged to her yourself, werenтАЩt you, at one time? Well, what would you have thought if IтАЩd come butting in? You must look at it like that, from my point of view, too, mustnтАЩt you, I mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, I think thatтАЩs rather what did happen.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh no, look here, Symes, I mean, damn it; you mustnтАЩt say things like that. DтАЩyou know all the time I was out East I had NinaтАЩs photograph over my bed, honest I did. I expect you think thatтАЩs sentimental and all that, but what I mean is I didnтАЩt stop thinking of that girl once all the time I was away. Mind you, there were lots of other frightfully jolly girls out there, and I donтАЩt say I didnтАЩt sometimes get jolly pally with them, you know, tennis and gymkhana and all that sort of thing, I mean, and dancing in the evenings, but never anything serious, you know. Nina was the only girl I really thought of, and IтАЩd sort of made up my mind when I came home to look her up, and if sheтАЩd have meтБатАКтБатАж see what I mean? So you see itтАЩs awfully rough luck on me when someone comes butting in. You must see that, donтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ said Adam. + 

тАЬAnd thereтАЩs another thing, you know, sentiment and all that apart. I mean NinaтАЩs a girl who likes nice clothes and things, you know, comfort and all that. Well, I mean to say, of course, her fatherтАЩs a topping old boy, absolutely one of the best, but heтАЩs rather an ass about money, if you know what I mean. What I mean, NinaтАЩs going to be frightfully hard up, and all that, and I mean you havenтАЩt got an awful lot of money, have you?тАЭ + 

тАЬI havenтАЩt any at all.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, I mean, thatтАЩs what I mean. Awfully rough on you. No one thinks the worse of you, respects you for it, I mean earning a living and all that. Heaps of fellows havenтАЩt any money nowadays. I could give you the names of dozens of stout fellows, absolute toppers, who simply havenтАЩt a bean. No, all I mean is, when it comes to marrying, then that does make a difference, doesnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat youтАЩve been trying to say all this time is that youтАЩre not sure of Nina?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, rot, my dear fellow, absolute bilge. Damn it, IтАЩd trust Nina anywhere, of course I would. After all, damn it, what does being in love mean if you canтАЩt trust a person?тАЭ + 

(тАЬWhat, indeed?тАЭ thought Adam), and he said, тАЬNow, Ginger, tell the truth. WhatтАЩs Nina worth to you?тАЭ + 

тАЬGood Lord, why what an extraordinary thing to ask; everything in the world of course. IтАЩd go through fire and water for that girl.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, IтАЩll sell her to you.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, why, look here, good God, damn it, I meanтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll sell my share in her for a hundred pounds.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou pretend to be fond of Nina and you talk about her like that! Why, hang it, itтАЩs not decent. Besides, a hundred pounds is the deuce of a lot. I mean, getting married is a damned expensive business, donтАЩt you know. And IтАЩm just getting a couple of polo ponies over from Ireland. ThatтАЩs going to cost a hell of a lot, what with one thing and another.тАЭ + 

тАЬA hundred down, and I leave Nina to you, I think itтАЩs cheap.тАЭ + 

тАЬFifty.тАЭ + 

тАЬA hundred.тАЭ + 

тАЬSeventy-five.тАЭ + 

тАЬA hundred.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm damned if IтАЩll pay more than seventy-five.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll take seventy-eight pounds sixteen and twopence. I canтАЩt go lower than that.тАЭ + 

тАЬAll right, IтАЩll pay that. You really will go away?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll try, Ginger. Have a drink.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, thank youтБатАКтБатАж this only shows what an escape NinaтАЩs hadтБатАФpoor little girl.тАЭ + 

тАЬGoodbye, Ginger.тАЭ + 

тАЬGoodbye, Symes.тАЭ + 

тАЬYoung Thingummy going?тАЭ said Lottie, appearing in the door. тАЬI was just thinking about a little drink.тАЭ + 

Adam went to the telephone-box.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬHullo, is that Nina?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhoтАЩs speaking, please? I donтАЩt think Miss Blount is in.тАЭ + 

тАЬMr.┬аFenwick-Symes.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, Adam. I was afraid it was Ginger. I woke up feeling I just couldnтАЩt bear him. He rang up last night just as I got in.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know. Nina, darling, something awfulтАЩs happened.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat?тАЭ + 

тАЬLottie presented me with her bill.тАЭ + 

тАЬDarling, what did you do?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, I did something rather extraordinary.тБатАКтБатАж My dear, I sold you.тАЭ + 

тАЬDarlingтБатАКтБатАж who to?тАЭ + 

тАЬGinger. You fetched seventy-eight pounds sixteen and twopence.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd now I never am going to see you again.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, but Adam, I think this is beastly of you; I donтАЩt want not to see you again.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry.тБатАКтБатАж Goodbye, Nina, darling.тАЭ + 

тАЬGoodbye, Adam, my sweet. But I think youтАЩre rather a cad.тАЭ + 

Next day Lottie said to Adam, тАЬYou know that chap I said came here asking for you?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe dun?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, he wasnтАЩt a dun. IтАЩve just remembered. HeтАЩs a chap who used to come here quite a lot until he had a fight with a Canadian. He was here the night that silly Flossie killed herself on the chandelier.тАЭ + 

тАЬNot the drunk Major?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe wasnтАЩt drunk yesterday. Not so as youтАЩd notice anyway. Red-faced chap with an eyeglass. You ought to remember him, dear. He was the one made that bet for you on the November Handicap.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut I must get hold of him at once. WhatтАЩs his name?тАЭ + 

тАЬAh, that I couldnтАЩt tell you. I did know, but itтАЩs slipped my memory. HeтАЩs gone to Manchester to look for you. Pity your missing him!тАЭ + 

Then Adam rang up Nina. тАЬListen,тАЭ he said. тАЬDonтАЩt do anything sudden about Ginger. I may be able to buy you back. The drunk Major has turned up again.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut, darling, itтАЩs too late. Ginger and I got married this morning. IтАЩm just packing for our honeymoon. WeтАЩre going in an aeroplane.тАЭ + 

тАЬGinger wasnтАЩt taking any chances, was he? Darling, donтАЩt go.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, I must. Ginger says he knows a тАШtophole little spot not far from Monte with a very decent nine-hole golf course.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I knowтБатАКтБатАж we shall only be away a few days. WeтАЩre coming back to spend Christmas with papa. Perhaps we shall be able to arrange something when we get back. I do hope so.тАЭ + 

тАЬGoodbye.тАЭ + 

тАЬGoodbye.тАЭ + 

Ginger looked out of the aeroplane: тАЬI say, Nina,тАЭ he shouted, тАЬwhen you were young did you ever have to learn a thing out of a poetry book about: тАШThis scepterтАЩd isle, this earth of majesty, this something or other EdenтАЩ? DтАЩyou know what I mean? тАШthis happy breed of men, this little world, this precious stone set in the silver seaтБатАКтБатАж + 

тАШThis blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England + 

This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings + 

Feared by their breed and famous by their birthтБатАКтБатАжтАЩ + 

I forget how it goes on. Something about a stubborn Jew. But you know the thing I mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬIt comes in a play.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, a blue poetry book.тАЭ + 

тАЬI acted in it.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, they may have put it into a play since. It was in a blue poetry book when I learned it. Anyway, you know what I mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, why?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, I mean to say, donтАЩt you feel somehow, up in the air like this and looking down and seeing everything underneath. I mean, donтАЩt you have a sort of feeling rather like that, if you see what I mean?тАЭ + 

Nina looked down and saw inclined at an odd angle a horizon of straggling red suburb; arterial roads dotted with little cars; factories, some of them working, others empty and decaying; a disused canal; some distant hills sown with bungalows; wireless masts and overhead power cables; men and women were indiscernible except as tiny spots; they were marrying and shopping and making money and having children. The scene lurched and tilted again as the aeroplane struck a current of air. + 

тАЬI think IтАЩm going to be sick,тАЭ said Nina. + 

тАЬPoor little girl,тАЭ said Ginger. тАЬThatтАЩs what the paper bags are for.тАЭ + 

There was rarely more than a quarter of a mile of the black road to be seen at one time. It unrolled like a length of cinema film. At the edges was confusion; a fog spinning past: тАЬFaster, faster,тАЭ they shouted above the roar of the engine. The road rose suddenly and the white car soared up the sharp ascent without slackening speed. At the summit of the hill there was a corner. Two cars had crept up, one on each side, and were closing in. тАЬFaster,тАЭ cried Miss Runcible, тАЬFaster.тАЭ + 

тАЬQuietly, dear, quietly. YouтАЩre disturbing everyone. You must lie quiet or youтАЩll never get well. EverythingтАЩs quite all right. ThereтАЩs nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.тАЭ + 

They were trying to make her lie down. How could one drive properly lying down? + 

Another frightful corner. The car leant over on two wheels, tugging outwards; it was drawn across the road until it was within a few inches of the bank. One ought to brake down at the corners, but one couldnтАЩt see them coming lying flat on oneтАЩs back like this. The back wheels wouldnтАЩt hold the road at this speed. Skidding all over the place. + 

тАЬFaster. Faster.тАЭ + 

The stab of a hypodermic needle. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs nothing to worry about, dearтБатАКтБатАж nothing at allтБатАКтБатАж nothing.тАЭ + 