"What?" says Tommy.
"Do you pledge yourself to declare where Miss Kavanagh is now?"
"Is it Joyce?" says Tommy, coming forward and standing undaunted in his knickerbockers and an immaculate collar that defies suspicion.
"Yes—Joyce," says Mr. Browne, who never can hold his tongue.
"Well, I know." Tommy pauses, and an unearthly silence falls on the assembled company. Half the county is present, and as Tommy, in the character of reconteur, is widely known and deservedly dreaded, expectation spreads itself among his audience.
Lady Baltimore moves uneasily, and for once Dicky Browne feels as if he should like to sink into his boot.
"She's up on the top of the hill with Mr. Dysart," says Tommy, and no more. Lady Baltimore sighs with relief, and Mr. Browne feels now as if he should like to give Tommy something.
"How do you know?" asks Beauclerk, as though he finds it impossible to repress the question.
"Because I saw her there," says Tommy, "when Mabel and me was coming here. I like Mr. Dysart, don't you?" addressing Beauclerk specially. "He is a very kind sort of man. He gave me half a crown."
"For what, Tommy?" asks Baltimore, idly, to whom Tommy is an unfailing joy.