“For we'll have a hop and all be your partners,” Mrs. Bainbridge exclaimed.
“I will be pleased to accommodate you, ladies.”
“It's anything for variety's sake with us, you see,” said Mrs. Starr, smoothly smiling; and once again Augustus bent blandly from his hips.
But the commanding officer wished leniency. “You see us all,” he hastened to say. “Commissioned officers and dancing-men. Pretty shabby—”
“Oh, Captain!” said a lady.
“And pretty old.”
“Captain!” said another lady.
“But alive and kicking. Captain Starr, Mr. Bainbridge, the Doctor and me. We are seven.”
Augustus looked accurately about him. “Do I understand seven, Captain?”
“We are seven,” the senior officer repeated.