Behind them a silver basket of openwork design was occupied by three bunches of black, one bunch of white grapes, and a silver grape-cutter, which performed no function (it was so blunt), but had once belonged to a Totteridge and wore their crest.
No servants were in the room, but the side-door was now and again opened, and something brought in, and this suggested that behind the door persons were collected, only waiting to be called upon.

It was, in fact, as though Mr.Pendyce had said: "A butler and two footmen at least could hand you things, but this is a simple country house." At times a male guest rose, napkin in hand, and said to a lady: "Can I get you anything from the sideboard ?" Being refused, he went and filled his own plate.

Three dogs--two fox-terriers and a decrepit Skye circled round uneasily, smelling at the visitors' napkins.

And there went up a hum of talk in which sentences like these could be distinguished: "Rippin' stand that, by the wood.

D'you remember your rockettin' woodcock last year, Jerry ?" "And the dear old Squire never touched a feather! Did you, Squire ?" "Dick--Dick! Bad dog!--come and do your tricks.