'If that isn't coming it quick, boy!' he said. 'What the blazes! What ha'
you bin doing?'

'Nothing!' said Joe.

Albert slowly shook his head as he sat on the side of the bed.

'Don't happen to me when I've bin doin' nothing,' he said. And he
proceeded to pull off his stockings.

Joe turned away, looking at himself in the mirror as he unbuttoned his
tunic.

'You didn't want to keep the appointment?' Albert asked, in a changed
voice, from the bedside.

Joe did not answer for a moment. Then he said:

'I made no appointment.'

'I'm not saying you did, boy. Don't be nasty about it. I mean you didn't
want to answer the--unknown person's summons--shall I put it that way?'

'No,' said Joe.

'What was the deterring motive?' asked Albert, who was now lying on his
back in bed.

'Oh,' said Joe, suddenly looking round rather haughtily. 'I didn't want
to.' He had a well-balanced head, and could take on a sudden distant