David addressed himself to Eleanor.
“My sweet,” he said, “not even for an undress wedding will I give you a house. In your own interest——”
Here a salted almond hit him upon the nose.
Mrs. Willoughby regarded the ceiling.
“Ten sovereigns to one,” she murmured. “Dear me, this is very fortunate. David, how much was that hat you didn’t like?”
“What, not ‘The Lost Chord’?”
“That’s right.”
“Nine and a half guineas,” said Herrick. He turned to Crispin. “Nine and a half guineas for a piece of rope—wound round and round—painted red and white—with a chunk of wood on each end.”
“But how ravishing,” said Crispin. “Was it real rope, or only imitation?”
“It was a gem,” said Madge. “We’ll get it to-morrow, David, before we look at the cooks.”