Sharp ere she disappeared.
"Come--out," said Mr. Culpepper, panting.
"You trying to tickle me?" inquired Mr. Sharp.
"You get off home," said the other. "You've been doing nothing but make
mischief ever since you came in. What put such things into your silly
head I don't know. I shall never hear the end of 'em as long as I live."
"Silly head?" repeated Mr. Sharp, with an alarming change of manner.
"Say it again."
Mr. Culpepper repeated it with gusto.
"Very good," said Mr. Sharp. He seized him suddenly and, pushing him
backwards into his easychair, stood over him with such hideous
contortions of visage that Mr. Culpepper was horrified. "Now you sit
there and keep quite still," he said, with smouldering ferocity. "Where
did you put carving-knife? Eh? Where's carving-knife?"
"No, no, Bert," said Mr. Culpepper, clutching at his sleeve. "I--I was
only joking. You--you ain't quite yourself, Bert."
"What?" demanded the other, rolling his eyes, and clenching his fists.
"I--I mean you've improved," said Mr. Culpepper, hurriedly. "Wonderful,
you have."
Mr. Sharp's countenance cleared a little. "Let's make a night of it," he
said. "Don't move, whatever you do."
[Illustration: He felt the large and clumsy hand of Mr.
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