There was another burst of laughter, and James shouted something that nobody understood. Bannon looked down at him, and said quietly, and with a twinkle in his eye, but very firmly:—
"If you try that again, I'll throw you out of the window."
James protested, and was allowed to get up. Bannon slipped into his seat by Hilda.
"It's all right," he said in a low tone. "They won't know it now until we get out of here." His hand groped for hers under the table.
James was irrepressible. He was shouting quickly now, in order to get the words out before Bannon could reach him again.
"How about this, boys? Shall we stand it?"
"No!" was the reply in chorus.
"All right, then. Three cheers for Mr. Bannon. Now—Hip, hip—"
There was no stopping that response.