They were those of his sex. He took off his evening coat and waistcoat preparatory to washing. Upon minor occasions in the past, mere affairs of outposts, Mrs. Randle had taken cover before this manœuvre; to-day the occasion was decisive, and she stood firm.
"and the Principal of the University too, sir! And his dear young lady! And, oh! when they put that news in the paper, which wasn't true, thanks be to God"
Here, as Mrs. Randle approached tears again, the desperate philosopher threw his braces from his shoulders, plunged his face and hands into the water, and fondly hoped that when he lifted it again the enemy would have fled. But Mrs. Randle was a widow, and the first sound he heard as the water ran out of his ears was the continuing string of lamentations and questionings.
"Where 's the towel?" he asked abruptly.
"Where it 's been since last Monday, sir," said Mrs. Randle. "Since that last Blessed Monday when we thought to lose you for ever! I never thought to change it! I never thought to see you back all of a heap like this!"
"Last Monday?" hesitated Mr. Higginson genuinely enough. His calendar had got a
