He proceeded to carve the ham in silence, and as he did so there came the sound of wheels and a horse’s feet outside.
“Here they are!” said Mrs. Dermot in a tone of relief.
“I knew they wouldn’t be long,” said Elsie.
Arthur’s face took an inscrutable look. He said nothing whatever.
Elsie carried round the plates and they began the meal. After a brief pause Nell and Lucy came back into the room and silently resumed their places; but a considerable interval elapsed before the opening of the outer door into the scullery told of the entrance of the latest comers.
Maggie came in looking flushed and nervous. Oliver entered behind her, swaggering a little, his bold eyes somewhat fierce.
“Hullo!” he said. “That’s right. I said you’d begin. We’d better sit down as we are.”
Maggie’s place was next to her mother. He pulled out the chair for her, and she dropped into it speechlessly.
“What have you been doing?” said Arthur.
He spoke quietly, but his tone was ominous. Maggie threw him one swift glance and then lowered her eyes.