NSFW"Shall I extinguish the lamps early, sir?" Higgins asked, his voice dripping with the exhaustion of a man who had seen this exact expression on five previous generations of the family.
Reginald swallowed hard, his dignity hanging by a thread. "Higgins... are the oats in the lower paddock properly secured?"
"They are, sir."
"Splendid," Reginald squeaked. "Leave the tea. And perhaps... bring me three cold cucumbers."
Higgins bowed slightly. "Very good, sir. A battle for the ages, I see."
Reginald swallowed hard, his dignity hanging by a thread. "Higgins... are the oats in the lower paddock properly secured?"
"They are, sir."
"Splendid," Reginald squeaked. "Leave the tea. And perhaps... bring me three cold cucumbers."
Higgins bowed slightly. "Very good, sir. A battle for the ages, I see."