Mr. Oswald Layton (his first appearance in stand-up collars.)
The Misses Emily and Nelly Cathcart (with their bran new dolls—blue tarleton, looped with snowdrops).
Master Willie Cathcart, with his dog Leo, who barks for lumps of sugar.
Mr. Cathcart, with a prodigious white vest and a black bâton, “as leader of the choir.”
Rat-tat-tat!
Misses and Masters, Misters and Mistresses, ad lib., ad infin.
Tea and coffee at six o’clock—and why that should mean from half-past six to seven, custom must reply—is much better than tea at six o’clock. A sit-down tea is a mistake; it tries the temperament, terrifies the timid, and taxes the talkers, whereas tea and coffee implies wandering about with a cup in your hand, and spilling it as occasion requires; it makes work for the lads and pleasure for the lassies, and it breaks the ice between strangers. Little groups form and chat, and when a joke has taken with effect, it is passed on to a neighbouring group, and so all the company gets jocular. For instance, Tom Martin was surrounded by his favourites, and was replying to their questions as to how his violin had stood the cold journey.
“Delightfully. But she is now reclining on the couch up-stairs, in order to get up her strength for the evening.”
“That’s all fiddle de dee, said one.” (Applause.)