It was ten o'clock, but barely dark enough yet to make the lanterns effective, although they had just been lighted.
There were two private carriages and two four-wheelers, from which paterfamilias and one other gentleman alighted, followed by a small feminine delegation.
"One young chap to brace up the gov'nor," said Bertie Godolphin.

"Then the eldest daughter is engaged to be married; that's right; only three daughters and two h'orphan nieces to work off now!" As the girls scampered in, hidden by their long cloaks, we could not even discover the two we already knew.

While they were divesting themselves of their wraps in an upper chamber, Nurse hovering over them with maternal solicitude, we were anxiously awaiting their criticisms of our preparations..