Had she made herself too pretty for the occasion?
She mustered spirit, however, to laugh at the compliment, and busied herself with the final arrangements.
Jeff appeared a few minutes later, clad in black but not in evening dress.

His eyes dwelt upon his wife for a moment or two before he addressed her.
"Do you mind being in the parlour when they come in ?" She looked up at him with a smile which she knew to be forced.

"Are you sure I shan't be one too many, Jeff ?" "Quite," said Jeff.
There was no appealing against that, and she accompanied him without further words.
Jim Dawlish was standing by the parlour door, admiring his handiwork.

He nudged Jeff as he went by, and was rewarded by Jeff's heaviest scowl.
A minute later, to Doris's mingled relief and dread, came the sounds of the first arrival.
This proved to be a Mr.Griggs and his son, a horsey young man, whom she vaguely knew by sight, having encountered him when following the hounds.
Mr.Griggs was a jolly old farmer, with a somewhat convivial countenance.

He shook her warmly by the hand, and asked her how she liked being married.
Doris was endeavouring to reply to this difficult question as airily as possible, when three more of Jeff's friends made their appearance, and were brought up by Jeff in a group for introduction, thereby relieving her of the obligation.
The party was now complete, and they all sat down to supper in varying degrees of shyness.