But then, if they ran it too fine, the guests might arrive while the fish were still fizzling on the tray.

If, on the other hand, they were cooked too soon, they would be lukewarm by the time the guests came to sit down to them.

Again, there were the starlights and Roman candles to get into position outside, and arrangements had to be made for their protection from the damp November mist.

Then, too, the faithless Grenadiers had not turned up, which necessitated Jill deserting her herrings and privately practising the Goblin polka, in view of possible emergencies.

Further, the table had to be laid, and every guest's "go" of buns, and cocoa-nut, and coffee-ice, doled out in readiness.