He explained briefly that there had been an accident.

They learned afterwards than an ill-advised wag in the street had asked him if he were feeding Pinkey up for the show.

During the two rounds that followed, Chook had accidentally stepped on the plates.
Whenever Ada met Pinkey, she wanted to know how things were progressing; but Pinkey could turn like a hare from undesirable questions.
"Are you an' 'im goin' to git spliced ?" she inquired, for the hundredth time.
"I dunno," said Pinkey, turning scarlet; "'e sez we are." END OF PART I..