The Binghams had nearly finished breakfast. Mr. Bingham had quite done, and was looking out of the window at a solitary foot passenger who was in sight, when his wife asked him,
“Are you going up to your office this morning, my dear?”
“No; I am going over to Bayswater, to value a house, but I dare say I shall be in town in the afternoon.”
“Then I suppose you are going to the office, Freddy, dear?”
“Now, look here, Venerable,” Fred Bingham said, “I suppose you want something; if you do, say it out, and don’t be beating about the bush, and asking questions about things which don’t concern you.”
“Now, Freddy, that is so like you. No, I don’t want anything at all. I was only thinking what a treat it would be to take the poor children to a pantomime.”
“Oh, you were thinking what a treat it would be to take the poor children to a pantomime,” Fred mimicked. “Well, supposing that it would, I really don’t see what connection that has to my going to office.”
“Now, Freddy, how you do take me up. I was only wondering whether you would be doing anything to tire yourselves, because if not——”
“Oh, because if not, I suppose you wondered next whether you could do me into buying tickets for them.”
“No, Freddy, I did not wonder anything of the sort. I am sure your dear papa would do that.”
“I don’t know, my dear,” Mr. Bingham said, standing on the hearth-rug, and jingling the money and keys in his trousers pockets, as was a favourite habit of his. “I don’t know, my dear, that their dear papa will do anything of the sort. He is peculiarly short of money at present.”
“There, Venerable,” Fred said, “don’t look so downcast. I will get tickets for the poor things, and as I suppose you will be wanting to go too, instead of staying quietly at home, as an old lady of your age should do, I must get one for you, too. Make up your minds which theatre you will go to, but don’t talk about it now, as you will all talk together, and then I shan’t get you the tickets at all. Settle it among yourselves out of the room, and let me know before I start.”
“There’s a dear, kind Freddy,” Mrs. Bingham said, admiringly: “he is always such a good, kind fellow.” And she looked round proudly upon the girls, who purred acquiescence.