"I think perhaps—as we've finished supper—we'd better break up," said Andy, apologetically addressing the company.
"Why? Has anything happened?" asked Billy Foot.
"I think so." He bent down to the Nun again. "Miss Vintry has got to sleep here to-night." His voice was low, but they were all very still, and the voice carried.
"There's no room for her—with Gilly here as well as us," the Nun protested rather fretfully.
"You must make room somehow," he returned firmly. "I'm going to bring them in now." He looked significantly at Billy Foot. "We're rather a large party."
Billy turned to his brother. "I'm off home. Will you stroll with me as far as Halton?"
Gilly nodded in a bewildered fashion—he was not up in Meriton affairs—and slowly rose.
"And when I come back I'll go straight to bed," he said, looking at Andy to see whether what he suggested met with acceptance.
Andy nodded approval; Gilly would be best in bed.
With the briefest farewell the brothers passed out. As they went, they saw Harry Belfield, with a woman on his arm, walking slowly up and down on the other side of the street.