"You're a set of lazybones!" Joseph told them. "I see I shall have to trot up myself."
"I didn't phrase it quite like that, but you've interpreted my meaning correctly," said Stephen.
Paula gave an unwilling laugh, but said, as Joseph left the room: "You're in a sweet mood, brother!"
"Matching yours, sister," he replied, smiling at her with an amiability belied by his shut teeth.
"I think I'm suffering from an overdose of Herriard," said Mathilda.
Maud, who had abandoned the search for her book, and was seated in her usual place beside the fire, looked up fleetingly from Stephen and his sister to Mathilda. Her face was expressionless, but she moved her plump little hands, clasping them in her lap rather tightly.
"I wonder how you stand it, Maud," Mathilda said.
"I'm used to it, dear," Maud replied.
Joseph's voice was heard calling to Stephen from the head of the stairs. "Stephen, old chap, just come here a minute, will you?"
Edgar Mottisfont said: "Oh dear! I hope nothing's wrong!"