'Where's the infant?' asked Mr. Byass, thrusting his hands into his
waistcoat pockets and peering about the room. 'Bring forth the
infant! Let a fond parent look upon his child.'

'Go an' wash, or I'll throw something at you. Baby's in bed, and
mind, you wake him if you dare!'

Sidney would have taken his leave, but found it impossible. Mrs.
Byass declared that if he would not stay to supper he should never
enter the house again.

'Let's make a night of it!' cried Sam, standing in the doorway.
'Let's have three pots of six ale and a bottle of old Tom! Let us be
reckless!'

His wife caught up the pillow from the sofa and hurled it at him.
Samuel escaped just in time. The next moment his head was again
thrust forward.

'Let's send to the High Street for three cold roast fowls and a
beef-steak pie! Let's get custards and cheese-cakes and French
pastry! Let's have a pine-apple and preserved ginger! Who says, Go
it for once?'

Mrs. Byass caught up the poker and sprang after him. From the
passage came sounds of scuffling and screaming, and in the end of
something produced by the lips. Mrs. Byass then showed a very red
face at the door, and said:

'_Isn't_ he a fool? Just wait a minute while I get the table laid.'