PRITCHETT:

Perguntam quem se lembra hoje  desse extraordinário contista do quotidiano. Pois bem, aqui fica um pedacinho de It May Never Hapen:

Mr. Belton was half an hour late . He was one of those cheerful self-centered men whose tempers shorten when they  are in the  wrong. They put themselves right by sailing out into general reflexions.

"Punctuality, Vincent, is everything.," said Mr. Belton, bitterly. "How long have you beem there?"

"Half an our"

"Why have you been here half an our?"