‘Miss Creek indeed,’ she said, recounting the incident later. ‘I ask you! And me in my apron. Made me feel a real fool. I s’pose I should just hev said me name was Berta and left it at that; but how was I to know?’

At the time, however, the gaffe was overlooked. The taxi-driver, perhaps feeling that introductions were in the air, said:

‘I’m Ed Higgins. Now, if you’d just lend me a hand.’