Page:The Wonderful Visit.djvu/192



drunk!" said Mr. Rathbone-Slater, breaking a terrific silence. "That's the matter with him."

Mrs. Jehoram laughed hysterically.

The Vicar stood up, motionless, staring. "Oh! I forgot to explain servants to him!" said the Vicar to himself in a swift outbreak of remorse. "I thought he did understand servants."

"Really, Mr. Hilyer!" said Lady Hammergallow, evidently exercising enormous self-control and speaking in panting spasms. "Really, Mr. Hilyer!—Your genius is too terrible. I must, I really must, ask you to take him home."

So to the dialogue in the corridor of alarmed maid-servant and well-meaning (but shockingly gauche) Angel—appears the Vicar, his botryoidal little face crimson, gaunt despair in his eyes, and his necktie under his left ear.