number--it is still the same number she and Oliver
used when they used to talk after he had caught the last train back to
Melgrove and both by all principles that make for the Life Efficient
should have gone to bed--though to Nancy's mind that seems a great while
ago. "Can I speak to Mrs. Crowe, please?" The explaining can be as awful
as it likes, Nancy doesn't care any more. An agitated rustle comes to
her ears--that must be Mrs. Winters listening.

"Mrs. Crowe? This--is--Nancy--Ellicott."

She says it very loudly and distinctly and for Mrs. Winters to hear.

XLVII

Oliver wakes around one o'clock with a dim consciousness that noisy
crowds of people have been talking very loudly at him a good many too
many times during the past few hours, but that he has managed to fool
them, many or few, by always acting as much like a Body as possible. His
chief wish is to turn over on the other side and sleep for another seven
hours or so, but one of those people is standing respectfully beside
his bed and though Oliver blinks eyes at him reproachfully, he will
not vanish back into his proper nonentity--he remains standing
there--obsequious words come out of his mouth.

"Ten minutes to one, sir. Lunch is at one, sir."

Oliver stares at the blue waistcoat gloomily. "What's that?"

"Ten minutes to one, sir. Lunch is at one, sir."

"Lunch?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then I'd better get up, I suppose. Ow-_ooh!_" as he stretches.

"Yes, sir. A bath, sir?" "Bath?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, yes, bath. No--don't bother--I mean, I'll take it myself. You
needn't watch me."

"Certainly _not_, sir. Thank you, sir. There have been several telephone
calls for you, sir."

Oliver sighs--he is really awake now--it will be less trouble to get
up than to try and go back to sleep. Besides, if he tries, that
brass-buttoned automaton in front of him will probably start shaking him
gently in its well-trained English way.

"Telephone calls? Who telephone-called?"

"The name was Crowe, sir. The lady who was calling said she would call
again around lunch time. She said you were to be sure to wait until she
called, sir."

"Oh, yes, certainly." Politely, "And now I think I'll get up, if you
don't mind?"

"Oh, no, sir," rather scandalizedly. "You are in need of nothing, sir?"

Oliver thinks of replying, "Oh, just bring me a little more sleep if you
have it in the house," but then thinks better of it.

"No, thanks."

"Very good, sir," and the a