--no ... but ..."

"Seriously, Bangs, you must telephone. Every day you delay brings a
possible pursuit closer. Come now! Shall I ring up?"

"No, no! Wait half a minute while I think of something to say. How shall
I begin? Shall I----"

"Oh, the usual sort of greeting from a husband to a wife: 'Good morning,
little bunch of fluff!' Or, 'Cheeroh, beloved armful!' Any pet
name--look here, you'd better let me----"

A confused sound hinted to Mrs. Peters that a struggle for the receiver
was in progress. It ended speedily in a victory for Mr. Bangs. His voice
quavered a number--"Bloomsbury, 843B." Mrs. Peters made a mental note.

"Hello ... hello ... are you 843B? Yes?... Who's that? _Hello!_ Who's
that? Oh, it's you, Jane ... tell your mistress--_hello_! You silly
girl, it _is_ me." ("She's had a fright, Mr. Wild. I ought to have
broken the news more gently.") "What? Do speak up ... yes ... yes ...
you've sat down on the porcelain bowl on the hall table? Confound!...
what for? What _for_, you clumsy ... oh! I frightened
you ... oh ... oh ... I see.... Well, go on.... Yes ... no, perhaps it
wasn't altogether your fault ... yes.... All right ... all right, that's
quite enough. I know you're sorry ... yes.... Tell your mistress I want
to speak to her.... She's in the kitchen? Well, go and fetch her. Don't
hang the receiver up. Yes ... yes....

"She's gone to fetch her, Mr. Wild!"

"The plot thickens, Bangs, I say, shall I take the receiver and
telephone? Rather a lark, you know, your wife expecting you and hearing
me instead."

"No, no!"

"I won't address her in terms of affection, if that's all you're afraid
of. Besides, I should rather like to hear what she says to her peccant
husband."

"Not for anything, Mr. Wild.... Hush! here she is.... Is that
you, Alicia? _Wheeee! Wheee!_... I'm exceedingly sorry, my
dear ... no, I wasn't laughing--something wrong with the wire.... Well,
how are you?... That's good ... I do hope you haven't been
worrying.... What?... Oh ... oh ... ah...." ("She says I'm not
worth worrying about!" "Cover it UP, you fool! She'll hear
you!") ... "Eh?... no ... nobody else here, my love ... quite
alone--quite alone ... the wire...." ("What's that? Magnetic
storm?") ... "Magnetic storm, Alicia! Plug's not firmly in,
perhaps.... Well, you're all right, then? Anything else?... Oh,
_me_! Oh, I'm in capital form.... What?... Yes, that's
all.... What?... Oh, I thought I'd better ring up to let you