him up, for they'll all be down on you if you don't bring your man up
to time in the pink of condition. We certainly did ourselves up to
the top hole last night. Couldn't face your breakfast, eh? Neither
could I. A strawberry and a bucket of soda-water.'

'How are they all at the Langham?' asked Frank eagerly.

'Oh, splendid! At least I haven't seen Maude. She's been getting
into parade order. But mother is full of beans. We had to take her
up one link in the curb, or there would have been no holding her.'

Frank's eyes kept turning to the slow-moving minute-hand. It was not
ten o'clock yet.

'Don't you think that I might go round to the Langham and see them?'

'Good Lord, no! Clean against regulations. Stand by his head, Hale!
Wo, boy, steady!'

'It won't do, Crosse, it really won't!' said Hale solemnly.

'What rot it is! Here am I doing nothing, and I might be of some use
or encouragement to her. Let's get a cab!'

'Wo, laddie, wo then, boy! Keep him in hand, Hale! Get to his
head.'

Frank flung himself down into an armchair, and muttered about absurd
conventions.