human
Hello, she cried,
gpt
he said,
human
Poor old chap, said Daphne.
gpt
It must have been awful. But haven't you got her?
human
It's a he! cried Jill, squeaking with excitement.
gpt
It's a he. Jonah's bringing him----
human
A _what_?
gpt
A male, said I.
human
You know. Like Nobby. Separate legs, and shaves on Thursdays.
gpt
Do you mean to say that it's a _chef_?
human
It is droll, isn't it? said Berry.
gpt
People wouldn't believe it. Fancy travelling a hundred and fifty miles to molest a lot of strange women, and then finding that for all the good you've done you might as well have spent the day advertising for 'The Lost Chord.'
human
Thank goodness, I had the sense to engage Pauline, she announced.
gpt
Something told me I'd better. But I waited before taking up her reference, on the off-chance of this one being a marvel. Where is the wretched man?
human
Jonah fetched up with him. He's stayed behind because of the Customs. They ought to be here any minute.
gpt
Well, there's no place for him to sleep here, said Daphne.
human
Fitch will have to look after him for tonight, and to-morrow he'll have to go back.
gpt
Five past seven, he said.
human
As the blighter's here, why not let him sub-edit the dinner to-night? It'll shorten his life, but it may save ours. You never know.
gpt
He'll never do it, she said.
human
I can suggest it, but, if he's anything of a cook, he'll go off the deep end at once.
gpt
And give notice, said I.
human
Well, that's exactly what we want. Then we shan't have to fire him. He can just push off quietly to-morrow, Pauline will roll up on Monday, and everything will be lovely in the garden.
gpt
That's it, said Berry.
human
If he consents, well and good. If he declines, so much the better. It's a blinkin' certainty. Whichever happens, we can't lose.
gpt
All right, said Daphne.
human
I shall make Jonah tell him.