I remember that it flashed across my mind just then, casually, that he had been drinking a good deal during the evening and that this had evidently had the effect of rendering him sociable.
“Mr. Carey and his daughter and Mrs. Harter in the back and myself and Captain Patch in front,” said Harter calmly.
There was an electric silence.
Then Mrs. Kendal, tactfully filling up the significant pause, inquired brightly:
“Then can you drive a car, Mr. Harter?”
They settled it at last, but Christopher held firm to his intention of taking Nancy home in the two-seater, and they went off, overtaking and passing General Kendal, in his tightly packed Standard, before the lodge gates were reached.
Harter brought the hired Ford round to the front door, old Carey, still grumbling, was helped in, and Mrs. Harter got in beside him.
Captain Patch hesitated for a moment.
“Get in,” said little Harter coldly.
He was himself already at the wheel and he sketched a slight gesture which unmistakably invited Bill to the place beside him.