Harry: It’s very nice to be home. Had a good day, Nora?
Nora: Not very good. People kept knocking at the door all the morning. I must have come downstairs a dozen times to open the door.
Harry: Oh. Who were they all?
Nora: Oh, nobody special. Just the electric-light man to read the meter, the man selling fruit, the postman – all the usual people. And the boys next door kept coming to fetch their ball, which they had kicked into our garden… But Harry, I’ve got something awful to tell you!
Harry: What’s that?
Nora: I went to the market to buy some meat, and I took Rex with me for a walk. And he disappeared!
Harry: What, you mean the dog disappeared while you were buying the meat?
Nora: Yes. One minute I was paying for it, and the next minute I looked round to find that he had gone. Of course we looked all round the butcher’s stall, but he wasn’t there. I’ve done nothing but worry. I went to the police station to report it; but they telephoned just before you came in, to say they had no news of him.
Harry: Oh, he’ll be all right. He’s clever enough to come home.
Nora: I’m sure he’s been run over. (A knocking at the front door). Who’s that now? If those boys have come to ask for their ball again I shall scream.
Harry: Then don’t trouble to answer it.
Nora: Oh, but I must. (She opens the door). Why, it’s Mr. Grimble, the Butcher!
Grimble: Yes, Madam. I’ve just called to bring you this dog. I see from the collar that he’s yours.
Nora: Oh, that’s wonderful! Look, Harry, Mr. Grimble has come specially to bring Rex back!
Grimble: H’m. And to give you this bill for five pounds of best beef your dog ate while he was hidden under my stall!