get the guests seated at the table.

At a sign from Mr. Hearty, Mr. Sopley rose to say grace.

Every one but Bindle was watching for the movement, and a sudden
silence fell on the assembly from which Bindle's remark stood out with
clear-cut emphasis.

"Ole 'Earty playing 'ockey with 'is top 'at under----" Then Bindle
stopped, looking about him with a grin.

Gravely and ponderously Mr. Sopley besought the Lord to make the
assembly grateful for what they were about to receive, and amidst a
chorus of "amens" the guests resumed their seats.

The wedding party was a small one. For once Mr. Hearty had found that
patriotism was not at issue with economy. The guests consisted of the
bridegroom's mother, a gentle, sweet-faced woman with white hair and a
sunny smile, her brother-in-law, Mr. John Dixon, a red-faced,
hurly-burly type of man, a genial, loud-voiced John Bull, hearty of
manner and heavy of hand, and half a dozen friends and relatives of
the Heartys.

At the head of the table sat Millie and Charlie Dixon, at the foot was
Mr. Sopley. The other guests were distributed without thought or
consideration as to precedence. Bindle found himself between Mrs.
Dixon and Mrs. Hearty. Mrs. Bindle was opposite, where she had
planted herself to keep watch. Mr. Hearty sat next to Mrs. Dixon,
facing Mr. Dixon, whose uncompromising stare Mr. Hearty found it
difficult to meet with composure.

Alice, the maid-servant, reinforced by her sister Bertha, heavy of
face and flat of foot, attended to the wants of the guests.

The meal began in constrained silence. The first episode resulted from
Alice's whispered enquiry if Mr. Dixon would have lime-juice or
lemonade.

"Beer!" cried Mr. Dixon in a loud voice.

Alice looked across at Mr. Hearty, who, being quite unequal to the
situation, looked at Alice, and then directed his gaze towards Mr.
Sopley.

"I beg pardon, sir?" said Alice.

"Beer!" roared Mr. Dixon.

Everybody began to feel uncomfortable except Bindle, who was watching
the little comedy with keen enjoyment.

"We--we----" began Mr. Hearty--"we don't drink beer, Mr. Dixon."

"Don't drink beer?" cried Mr. Dixon in the tone of a man who has just
heard that another doesn't wear socks. "Don't drink beer?"

Mr. Hearty shook his head miserably, as if fully conscious of his
shortcomings.

"Extraordinary!" said Mr. Dixon, "most extraordinary!"

"Well, I'll have a whisky-and-soda," he conceded magnanimously.

Mr. Hearty