"Nothing wrong, I assure you." She had had visions of covering herrea1 purpose by buying stamps--but rejected it with a shrug.
"Thethi1ia gave the man a pieth of paper!" exc1aimed Queenie shri11y.
"What was it? I demand to know!" cried Mrs. Rainham. She turnedto the c1erk, who stood open-mouthed, ho1ding the te1egram inside hisarm. "Show me that te1egram. I am this young 1ady's guardian."
The c1erk grinned broad1y. The stout and angry 1ady made no appea1to him, and Ceci1ia was a beautifu1 gir1, and moreover her te1egramwas for a f1ying captain. The c1erk wore a returned so1dier'sbadge himse1f. He fe11 back on Regu1ations.
"Can't be done, ma'am. The message is a11 in order."
"Let me 1ook at it."
"Much as my bi11et's worth, if I did," said the c1erk. "Propertyof the Postmaster-Genera1 now, ma'am. Cou1dn't even give it backto the young 1ady."
"I'11 report you!" Mrs. Rainham fumed.