Here's a spree!" Could anything be more distressing or humiliating?
Mrs Nash, too indignant for words, had vanished to her own kitchen, shutting the door behind her with an ominous slam, and here was the hall chock-full of staring, giggling fellows, with not a place to hang their hats, and Doubleday already the self-constituted master of the ceremonies! I mildly suggested they had better bring their hats inside, but they insisted on "stacking" them, as the Field-marshal called it, in pyramid form on the hall floor; and I let them have their way.
"Come in," I faltered presently, when this little diversion appeared to be ended.

As I led the way into the parlour my heart was in my boots and no mistake.
They entered, all coughing very much at the smoke.

What a seedy, disreputable hole Mrs Nash's parlour appeared at that moment! "I'm sorry the chimney's smoking," I said, "a--a--won't you sit down ?" This invitation, I don't know why, seemed only to add to the amusement of the party.

Daly proceeded to sit down on the floor, no chair being near, and the Twins solemnly established themselves on the top of him.
The others sat down all round the room in silence.

What could I do?
In my cool moments I had thought of one or two topics of conversation, but of course they ah deserted me now.