The forks and
spoons were electro-plate.
"Why," Mrs Cotterill said, "I could run this house without a servant and
have myself tidy by ten o'clock in a morning."
And Mrs Machin nodded.
"And then when you want a regular turn-out, as you call it," said Denry,
"there's the vacuum-cleaner."
The vacuum-cleaner was at that period the last word of civilisation, and
the first agency for it was being set up in Bursley. Denry explained the
vacuum-cleaner to the housewives, who had got no further than a Ewbank.
And they again called down blessings on themselves.
"What price this supper?" Denry exclaimed. "We ought to eat it. I'm sure
he'd like us to eat it. Do sit down, all of you. I'll take the
consequences."
Mrs Machin hesitated even more than the other ladies.
"It's really very strange, him not being here." She shook her head.
"Don't I tell you he's quite mad," said Denry.
"I shouldn't think he was so mad as all that," said Mrs Machin, dryly.
"This is the most sensible kind of a house I've ever seen."
"Oh! Is it?" Denry answered. "Great Scott! I never noticed those three
bottles of wine on the sideboard.
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