"It's awful," sniffled Zoie. And she tore up and down the room
regardless of the fact that Jimmy was still unseated.

"Awful what?" questioned Jimmy.

"Worst I've ever had," sobbed Zoie.

"Is anything wrong with Alfred?" ventured Jimmy. And he braced
himself for her answer.

"He's gone," sobbed Zoie.

"Gone!" echoed Jimmy, feeling sure that his worst fears were
about to be realised. "Gone where?"

"I don't know," sniffled Zoie, "I just 'phoned his office. He
isn't there."

"Oh, is that all?" answered Jimmy, with a sigh of relief. "Just
another little family tiff," he was unable to conceal a feeling
of thankfulness. "What's up?"

Zoie measured Jimmy with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. She
resented the patronising tone that he was adopting. How dare he
be cheerful when she was so unhappy--and because of him, too? She
determined that his self-complacency should be short-lived.

"Alfred has found out that I lied about the luncheon," she said,
weighing her words and their effect upon Jimmy.