"Don't drink beer?" cried Mr. Dixon in the tone of a man who has just heard that another doesn't wear socks. "Don't drink beer?"
Mr. Hearty shook his head miserably, as if fully conscious of his shortcomings.
"Extraordinary!" said Mr. Dixon, "most extraordinary!"
"Well, I'll have a whisky-and-soda," he conceded magnanimously.
Mr. Hearty rolled his eyes and cast a languishing glance in the direction of Mrs. Bindle.
"We are temperance," said Mr. Hearty.
"What!" roared Mr. Dixon incredulously. "Temperance! temperance at a wedding!"
"Always," said Mr. Hearty.
"Hmmmm!" snorted Mr. Dixon. He glared down the length of the table as if the guests comprised a new species.
Alice repeated her question about the lemonade and lime-juice.