The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

you it isn’t in that woman to change her infernal pigheaded
mind, especially about letting her house. She
is a monomaniac on that subject. If you want to know
my opinion, I am quite certain that your cousin Eustace
has let the place to these people without her knowledge,
and intends to pocket the cheque and not say a
word about it. What do you think?”
“Eh?” said Sam absently.
“I said, what do you think?”
“What do I think about what?”
“About Eustace Hignett and Windles.”
“What about them?”
Sir Mallaby regarded him disprovingly. “I’m hanged
if I know what’s the matter with you to-night, Sam.
You seem to have unhitched your brain and left it in
the umbrella stand. You hadn’t a word to say for yourself
all through dinner. You might have been a Trappist
monk. And with that delightful girl Miss Bennett, there,
too. She must have thought you infernally dull.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s no good being sorry now. <strong>The</strong> mischief’s done.
P. G. Wodehouse
103
She has gone away thinking you an idiot. Do you
realise,” said Sir Mallaby warmly, “that when she told
that extremely funny story about the man who made
such a fool of himself on board the ship, you were the
only person at the table who was not amused? She must
have thought you had no sense of humour!”
Sam rose. “I think I’ll be going,” he said. “Good
night!”
A man can bear just so much.