"Ay, Helen."
"But, Mr. Ollerenshaw——"
Here happened an interruption—a servant with a tray of sustenance, comprising more champagne. James, prudent, would have refused, but under the hospitable urgency of Mrs. Prockter he compromised—and yielded.
"I'll join ye."
So she joined him. Then a string of young people passed the end of the side-hall, and among them was Jos Swetnam, who capered up to the old couple on her long legs.
"Oh, Mrs. Prockter," she cried, "what a pity we can't dance on the lawn!"
"I wish you could, my dear," said Mrs. Prockter.
"And why can't ye?" demanded James.
"No music!" said Jos.
"You see," Mrs. Prockter explained, "the lawn is at the far end of the garden, and it is impossible to hear the piano so far off. If it were only a little piano we could move it about, but it's a grand piano."