In England they would certainly smile at that." Arthur said nothing, but his whole bearing expressed a contempt for puns.
"Of course," I said, "I mean the loveliest nation after Americans." I thought he might have taken that for granted.

Instead, he looked incredulous and smiled, in an observing, superior way.
"Why do you say 'ahfter' ?" he asked.

His tone was sweetly acidulated.
"Why do you say 'affter' ?" I replied simply.
"Because," he answered with quite unnecessary emphasis, "in the part of the world I come from everybody says it.

Because my mother has brought me up to say it." "Oh," I said, looking at the lamp, "they say it like that in other parts of the world too.

In Yorkshire--and such places.