Valerie looked rather appalled at this prospect of having to retire at such an unaccustomed hour, but was relieved to hear Joseph say cheerfully: "Well, I hope no one else means to run off yet! The night's young, eh, Valerie? What do you say to going into the billiard-room, and turning on the wireless?"
"You'd be a great deal better in bed," said Nathaniel, on whom Joseph's high spirits seemed to exercise a baleful influence.
"Not I!" Joseph declared. "I'll tell you what, Nat: you'd be much better enjoying yourself with us!"
His evil genius prompted him to clap his brother on the back as he said this. It was plain to everyone that the playful blow fell between Nat's shoulders, but Nathaniel, who hated to be touched, at once groaned, and jaculated: "My lumbago!"
He left the room withh the gait of a cripple, holding his hand to the small of his back, in a gesture which his relatives knew well, but which made Valerie open her lovely eyes very wide, and say: "I'd no idea lumbago was as bad as that!"
"It isn't. That's just my dear Uncle Nat playing up," said Stephen, handing a whisky-and-soda to Mathilda.
"No, no, that isn't quite fair!" protested Joseph. "Why, I've known poor old Nat to be set fast with it! I'm a stupid fellow: I daresay I did jar him. I wonder if I had better go after him?"
"No, Joe," said Mathilda kindly. "You mean well, but you'll only annoy him. Why is our little Paula looking like the Tragic Muse?"
"This awful house!" ejaculated Paula. "How any of you can spend an hour in it and not feel the atmosphere - !"
"Pray silence for Mrs. Siddons!" said Stephen, regarding her with a sardonic eye.