"I fancy it must be something you said in your letter concerning champagne."
"It was only what I read about you in a paper."
"I suppose so. But she thinks you meant it to insult her. She thinks you must have known perfectly well that we simply asked the reporter to put champagne in because it looks well—seems very flourishing, you know."
"I must see Mary," said Samuel. "Of course the idea of you staying on here is perfectly ridiculous, perfectly ridiculous. What do you suppose people will say?"
"I'd like you-to-see her," said George. "I wish you would. You may be able to do what I can't. You'll find her in Room 14. She's all dressed. But I warn you she's in a fine state."
"You'd better come too," said Samuel.
George lifted Georgie out of the perambulator.
"Here," said George. "Suppose you carry him to her."
Samuel hesitated, and yielded. And the strange procession started upstairs.
In two hours a cab was taking all the Peels to Hillport.