Fosse threw up his head. He glowed. He felt that all eyes were upon him.

“Yes,” he said—“my eulogy appears to-morrow.” He forgot to bawl.

Sir Gilders put his hand to his ear: the entrance and stir of the arriving guests and their announcement and greetings perplexed his weak hearing:

“Eh?” said he—“borrow? Why borrow?”

“No, Sir Gilders,” cried Fosse, getting very hot—“I did not say borrow—I said my eulogy appears to-morrow.”

“Why?” asked the old man.

There was a titter....

Ffolliott, thinking he saw someone he knew, went up to Lovegood and slapped the big man on the back:

“Hullo, old chap!” cried he.

Blank consternation came upon him as Lovegood slowly turned and solemnly faced him. The weak-knee’d, foolish Ffolliott faltered nervously: