"We were here first." "Do you hear ?--cut!" repeated the host.
"Come, along," said Bateson; "what's the use of bothering about a crumb and a half a-piece?
I never saw such a skinny spread in all my days." And in the ten years which comprehended Master Bateson's "days" he had had a little experience of that sort of thing.
The company being now reduced to eight, to wit, Stafford, the four Fifth-form boys, the two hosts, and Dimsdale, assumed more manageable proportions.

There was room at least to move an arm or a leg, and even to shut the door.

But when it came to taking seats, it still became evident that the table could by no possibility hold more than six.
Another crisis thereupon arose.

Dimsdale was regretfully dismissed, and departed scarlet in the face, promising, as he slammed the door, to show "up" his hosts.

These amiable worthies, much distressed, and not a whit cooler that the room was now comparatively empty, smiled feebly at this threat, and arranged to sit on one another's laps, so as to bring the company finally down to the capabilities of the table.