The meal, if brief, was a merry one.

Mr Rollitt took a special fancy to the Abernethys--a choice which of course put the shop- directors in an ecstasy.

They only reproached themselves that they had not provided twelve instead of six.
At length, partly because there was nothing left but lukewarm water and the toughest crusts of the cake, and partly because the guest's appetite was beginning to flag, the solid portion of the meal came to an end, and the social began.
After sundry nudgings and whisperings and signals among the juniors, Wally filled up his cup with warm water and rose to his feet.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I--you know--that is--shut up, young Cash, unless you want to do it--instead of me--it's this way, you see, you chaps: I sort of think we ought to drink the health of Rollitt's governor.

He's a good old sort, and we're backing up old Rollitt.

It wasn't a very grand spread.