Under the table-cloth he groped for Mary's hand with his knotted fingers.
Sarah, noticing the gesture, sniffed.
One of the famous Robson silences held the company spellbound. Then John, prompted by a sign from Mary, went to the side-table, and the pop of a cork closed the incident.
"We thought we would have some champagne to-night as this is a rather festive occasion," said Mary. "We don't often have an excuse."
"Splendid! Just the thing!" Toby licked his lips and winked at Ursula, intimating that he and she stood apart, belonging to a world where tea and champagne were only mixed at wedding-breakfasts. A faint smile quivered at the corner of Ursula's mouth.
Sarah felt more convinced than ever that Mary was leading John to ruin.
The glasses were filled and the guests paused. Then Aunt Jane, sitting at John's right hand, became aware with awful certainty that her husband was about to make a speech. She turned to John in fluttering horror.
"Oh, John, your Uncle Dickie's going to make a speech. Do stop him. He always says something dreadful, and it upsets him so that he can't sleep for nights afterwards."
But to John the effort of initiative, especially concerning his own relatives, was intolerable. He shook his head and said nothing. Uncle Dickie rose slowly to his feet.
"We have come together," he began without further ceremony, "on a most auspicious occasion. Ten years ago our little lass here was married to John."