'Jane, Emily, remember that that butter has to do for three loaves. Spread it thoroughly, but don't waste it, and cut the crusts as thin as possible. Father, will you see to it that the boys who come in with their parents come in alone? You remember last time how Briggs brought in four boys with him, and they ate all the jam sandwiches before Colonel Loder had had any. Mr Pennyfeather, the champagne‑cup is not for the masters. In fact, I expect you will find yourselves too much occupied helping the visitors to have any tea until they have left the tent. You had better tell Captain Grimes that, too. I am sure Mr Prendergast would not think of pushing himself forward.
Outside the marquee were assembled several seats and tubs of palms and flowering shrubs. 'All this must be set in order, said the Doctor; 'our guests may arrive in less than an hour. He passed on. 'The cars shall turn aside from the drive here and come right into the ground. It will give a pleasant background to the photographs, and, Pennyfeather, if you would with tact direct the photographer so that more prominence was given to Mrs Beste‑Chetwynde's Hispano Suiza than to Lady Circumference's little motor car, I think it would be all to the good. All these things count, you know.
'Nothing seems to have been done about marking out the ground, said Paul.
'No, said the Doctor, turning his attention to the field for the first time, 'nothing. Well, you must do the best you can. They can't do everything.
'I wonder if any hurdles have come?
'They were ordered, said the Doctor. 'I am certain of it. Philbrick, have any hurdles come?
'Yes, said Philbrick with a low chuckle.
'Why, pray, do you laugh at the mention of hurdles?
'Just you look at them! said Philbrick. 'They're behind the tea‑house there.
Paul and the Doctor went to look and found a pile of spiked iron railings in sections heaped up at the back of the marquee. They were each about five feet high and were painted green with gilt spikes.