"I know. But I wish she wouldn't keep on reproaching herself so.
If a girl likes to step on to her own balcony, it's not her fault
if some fellow underneath falls over himself and breaks a couple
of ribs. However. When's the comic leech coming back?"

"This afternoon," said my sister. "But he'll wake before then.
I don't expect he'll remember much about last night. I'm so
thankful it's not more serious."

How soon did he say he'd be up?"

"Inside a week. It's a clean fracture. Of course, he'll be
strapped up for some time. Fancy his going on, though."

"Must have been temporarily deranged," said my brother-in-law
airily. "Shock of the fall, I expect."

"Rubbish!" said his wife. Just because you'd have lain there,
giving directions about your funeral and saying you forgave
people, you think anybody's mad for trying to get on. Boy has
courage."

"Only that of his convictions," said Berry. "You forget I've got
a clean sheet. My discharge from the Navy was marked 'Amazing'.
The only stain upon my character is my marriage. As for my
escutcheon, I've shaved in it for years."

"Fool!" said his wife.

"I shall turn my face to the wall if you're not careful."