“And on top of that,” went on Eustace, deeply moved, “you have got to sing at the ship’s concert.”
“Why shouldn’t I sing at the ship’s concert?”
“My dear old man, you have many worthy qualities, but you must know that you can’t sing. You can’t sing for nuts! I don’t want to discourage you, but, long ago as it is, you can’t have forgotten what an ass you made of yourself at that house-supper at school. Seeing you up against it like this, I regret that I threw a lump of butter at you on that occasion, though at the time it seemed the only course to pursue.”
Sam started.
“Was it you who threw that bit of butter?”
“It was.”
“I wish I’d known! You silly chump, you ruined my collar.”
“Ah, well, it’s seven years ago. You would have had to send it to the wash anyhow by this time. But don’t let us brood on the past. Let us put our heads together and think how we can get you out of this terrible situation.”
“I don’t want to get out of it. I confidently expect to be the hit of the evening.”
“The hit of the evening! You! Singing!”