human
Why, if it's not Batchelor, exclaimed Doubleday; not, however, advancing open-armed to meet me, but edging towards the far end of the desk, and dexterously insinuating Crow and Wallop between me and his precious person.
gpt
Why, we heard you had smallpox.
human
So we thought yesterday,
gpt
Oh, you did, did you? said Doubleday, gradually working back to his own seat.
human
Well, you _have_ got something on your face to show for it; hasn't he, Wallop?
gpt
Looks as if he'd been painting up for the South Sea Islands,
human
That's rather a showy tint of yellow down his left cheek, said Crow.
gpt
Very fashionable colour just now.
human
Did you lay it on yourself? said Doubleday,
gpt
Oh, I said, in as off-hand a manner as I could,
human
I was having a little box with Whipcord up at the Field-marshal's. You weren't there, by the way, Doubleday. Whipcord's rather a good hand.
gpt
Is he? said Doubleday, laughing exuberantly, with Wallop and Crow as chorus.
human
I would never have supposed that by your face, now; would you, you fellows? It strikes me you got a big box instead of smallpox, eh? Ha, ha!
gpt
I wonder at Whipcord standing up to you, said Crow.
human
He's such a quiet fellow, and doesn't know in the least what to do with his hands.
gpt
He had the best of me,
human
Well, I don't know. It doesn't do to trust to appearances. If it did one might suppose he had--rather. I hope you'll ask me up when you have the return match.