And where was I born, Matilda ?" "You weren't ever born," protested Matilda with frightened indignation.
"Now don't be facetious or superfluous, sister dear," he said soothingly.

"Granted for the sake of argument I wasn't ever born.

But where might I have been born ?" "I was born near Albany." "Near Albany is perfectly agreeable to me," said Mr.Pyecroft.

"And how many are there in our family ?" "Just Angelica and me." "Then there really is an authentical Angelica ?" "Yes." "Excellent.

And our parents ?" "They died when I was a child." "I'm grieved, indeed, to learn of it," said Mr.Pyecroft.