duster.

"Are you nearly ready to go?" she inquired, returning after a short
interval.

"Five minutes," said Mr. Billing, nodding. I'll just light my pipe and
then I'm off."

"'Cos there's two or three waiting outside for you," added his wife.

Mr. Billing rose. "Ho, is there?" he said, grimly, as he removed his
coat and proceeded to roll up his shirt-sleeves. "I'll learn 'em. I'll
give 'em something to wait for. I'll----"

His voice died away as he saw the triumph in his wife's face, and,
drawing down his sleeves again, he took up his coat and stood eyeing her
in genuine perplexity.

"Tell 'em I've gorn," he said, at last.

"And what about telling lies?" demanded his wife. "What would your Mr.
Purnip say to that?"

"You do as you're told," exclaimed the harassed Mr. Billing. "I'm not
going to tell 'em; it's you."

Mrs. Billing returned to the parlour, and, with Mr. Billing lurking in
the background, busied herself over a china flower-pot that stood in the
window, and turned an anxious eye upon three men waiting outside. After
a glance or two she went to the door.