“My dear Jack, the remonstrance would more properly come from me!”
Walter Hammond thrust in his comments, seeming to jerk out his limbs in all directions as he spoke.
“At it again! Nice boys, aren’t they, Miss Norah? Always in their little nests agree! Since still they can’t make up their minds who’s who, and what’s what, and Tibbet’s a little late with his dinner, do say, Miss Norah, you’ll have that stall of mine. It’ll be so sporting of you, don’t you know; and you’ll be able to nod now and then at Purchase and Carter, as they sit glaring at each other in their boxes.”
Apparently mamma had arrived at the conclusion that it was time to announce her presence.
“What does this discussion mean? And how is it that Norah has all at once become the centre of so much attention? Norah, what have you been doing? How are you, gentlemen? Good-afternoon, Major.”
Major Tibbet advanced to mamma, holding out his brown paper parcel—of which I rather suspected he had become wearied.
“Here you are, Mrs O’Brady! How are you? Hope you’re well. Here’s a truffled turkey for you. Miss Norah doesn’t seem to care for it, but I’m sure you will. Much pleasure in giving it you, I’m sure.”
Whether mamma had equal pleasure in accepting it was not so obvious—particularly after the remarks which she could not have helped but hear, and the manner of presentation was, to say the least, peculiar. Without waiting to see if mamma was ready to relieve him of his burden, he forced it on her in such a very singular fashion that it went crashing to the floor. He did not stop to inquire if it had fallen on her feet, which it might easily have done, and twenty pounds is twenty pounds when it falls upon your tightly-fitting slippers; still less did he trouble himself to even offer to pick it up again. The moment he had got rid of it he came bustling back to me, mumbling an apology which was fashioned on lines which were distinctly his own.
“Beg pardon—thought you’d got it—really! Better ring the bell, and tell servant to take it away—thing’s so heavy, nearly broken both my arms—couldn’t have held it another moment, really! Now, Miss Norah, about this dinner to-night. I’ve ordered a bisque, which—I give you my personal assurance—when you have once tasted it you will not easily forget.”
Again there came an interposition from Mr Purchase.