She made appropriate remarks, inquiring after the relatives of each, offering congratulations or condolences as the case demanded.

It was cleverly done.

Courthope stood aside, immensely entertained, and when at last he too began to offer spirited remarks to the imaginary guests, he went up in favour so immensely that Eliz cried, 'Let Mr.Courthope take the end of the table.
Let Mr.Courthope be father.

It's much nicer to have a master of the house.' She began at once introducing him to the invisible guests as her father, and Madge, if she did not like the fancy, did not cross her will.

There was in Madge's manner a large good-humoured tolerance.
The table was long, and amply spread with fine glass and silver; nothing was antique, everything was in the old-fashioned tasteless style of a former generation, but the value of solid silver was not small.