'Dinner is served,' the man-servant announced at this critical moment.
'You shall see it after dinner,' Mrs. Sarrasin said, as she took the Dictator's arm, and led him rather than accompanied him out of the drawing-room and down the stairs.
'What charming water-colours!' the Dictator said, as he noticed some pictures hung on the wall of the stairs.
'Oh, these? I am so pleased that you like them. I am very fond of drawing; it often amuses me and helps to pass away the time. You see, I have no children to look after, and Oisin is a good deal away.'
'Not willingly, I am sure.'
'No, no, not willingly. Dear Oisin, he has always my approval in everything he does. He is my child—my one child—my big child—so I tell him often.'
'But these water-colours. I really must have a good look at them by-and-by. And they are so prettily and tastefully framed—so unlike the sort of frame one commonly sees in London houses.'
'The frames—yes—well, I make them to please myself and Oisin.'
'You make them yourself.'
'Oh, yes; I am fond of frame-making, and doing all sorts of jobs of that kind.'