Page:The Wonderful Visit.djvu/178

166 "So I said (clap, clap, clap), if you cannot cook the food my way (clap, clap, clap) you must go" said Mrs. Pirbright, clapping vigorously. "(This music is a delightful treat.)"

"(It is. I always revel in music,)" said the very eldest Miss Papaver. "And did she improve after that?"

"Not a bit of it," said Mrs. Pirbright.

The Vicar woke up again and stared round the saloon. Did other people see these visions, or were they confined to him alone? Surely they must all see &hellip; and have a wonderful command of their feelings. It was incredible that such music should not affect them. "He's a trifle gauche," said Lady Hammergallow, jumping upon the Vicar's attention. "He neither bows nor smiles. He must cultivate oddities like that. Every successful executant is more or less gauche."

"Did you really make that up yourself?" said Mrs. Jehoram, sparkling her eyes at him, " as you went along. Really, it is wonderful! Nothing less than wonderful."

"A little amateurish," said the Curate from Iping Hanger to Mr. Rathbone-Slater. "A great