"Why ?" He raised his brows.

"Because I ask you to." He halted at the sideboard to cut some bread.

"Going to refuse ?" he asked.
"No," said Olga.
"Thanks!" He went on with his cutting with the utmost serenity, and almost immediately they were joined by the rest of the party.
It was a somewhat rowdy meal.

Violet appeared to be in one of her wildest moods.

Her eyes shone like stars, and her merriment rippled forth continuously like a running stream.