Mr.Finn waved Paul to a seat on his right, Barney Bill to one next Paul; Jane sat on his left.
"I will ask a blessing," said Mr.Finn.
He asked one for two minutes in the old-fashioned Evangelical way, bringing his guest into his address to the Almighty with an almost pathetic courtesy.

"I am afraid, Mr.Savelli," said he, when he sat down and began to carve the beef, "I have neither wine nor spirits to offer you.

I am a strict teetotaller; and so is Miss Seddon.

But as I knew my old friend Simmons would be unhappy without his accustomed glass of beer--" "That's me," said Barney Bill, nudging Paul with his elbow.

"Simmons.
You never knowed that afore, did yer?
Beg pardon, guv'nor, for interrupting." "Well, there's a jug of beer--and that is all at this hour, except water, that I can put before you." Paul declared that beer was delicious and peculiarly acceptable after public speaking, and demonstrated his appreciation by draining the glass which the maid poured out.
"You wanted that badly, sonny," said Barney Bill.