“I believe we’ve got that matter arranged with the Bandmaster,” he said, rubbing his hands energetically as he entered his drawing-room that evening. “I did think for a time that the situation looked serious, but I approached him informally at first, and then officially, as the Chairman of the ‘Amusements Committee,’ and I think the crisis is over.” He paused, and smiled with satisfaction at his assembled family. “I’m glad to have my mind free for the Promenade question—that will take some engineering—but of one thing I am absolutely determined,”—he hit one hand on the other—“I will not have blue seats picked out with gold. I admit they may look prosperous—that is the argument Smith uses—but I dislike the idea. I cannot say why, but I dislike it.”
“Your artistic sense suggests to you unconsciously that they’ll make the sea look dirty,” said his daughter Norah, glancing across at him with the corners of her thin lips more mocking than usual—and she always seemed to be making game, a little contemptuously, of all that happened at Millsby Hall.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” said Mr. Atterton eagerly. “That will be an argument to use at our next meeting. It polishes your wits up, Norah, going about speaking in public as you do—though I can’t say I always——”
“Mr. Deane,” said the servant.
Then, immediately afterwards—
“Mrs. Stamford. Mr. Richard Stamford.”
There were only eight people in all, in the room, but they seemed to Andy like a crowd each possessing more than the normal number of feet, and it was only after treading upon the toes of Bill Atterton and then stepping back heavily upon those of the divinity that he managed to pull himself together sufficiently to realise that there was ample space in the apartment for the feet of a small army.
“Very—er—hot for the time of year,” he said to Dick Stamford, with whom he had become more or less intimate.
“Think so?” said Dick, as perfectly at his ease as if this were the ordinary drawing-room of commerce and not the shrine of a sacred lady. “Well, I thought myself it was chilly. Had to get a whisky before I came to warm me up a bit. Funny thing,” he added, with unusual animation, “but when I am cold whisky warms me, and when I am warm it cools me. I think I must have a peculiar constitution.”
“I don’t know. I’ve met chaps like that before,” said Andy, with a grin.