"Stephen being the little gentleman quite takes my breath away," murmured Mathilda.
Joseph, standing near enough to overhear this remark, laid a conspiratorial finger across his lips. He saw that Nathaniel had observed this gesture, and made haste to say, in bracing accents: "Now, who says Rummy?"
No one said Rummy; several persons, notably Nathaniel, looked revolted; and after a pause, Joseph, a little crestfallen, said: "Well, well, what shall it be?"
"Mathilda," said Nathaniel, fixing her with a compelling eye, "we want you to make up a fourth at Bridge."
"All right," said Mathilda. "Who's playing?"
"Stephen and Mottisfont. We'll have a table put up in the library, and the rest of you can play any silly - can do anything you like."
Joseph, whose optimism nothing could damp, said: Just the thing! No one will disturb you earnest people, and we frivolous ones can be as foolish as we like!"
"It's no good expecting me to play!" announced Roydon. "I don't know one card from another."
"Oh, you'll soon pick it up!" said Joseph. "Maud, my dear, I suppose we can't lure you into a round game?"
"No, Joseph, I will do a Patience quietly by myself, if someone will be kind enough to draw that table forward," replied Maud.