'Gentlemen,' she said, in a thin, clear voice, 'you are welcome. Did
you enjoy the performance?'

'Madame,' returned Vandeloup, with a smile, 'need you ask that?'

A shadowy smile floated over Mrs Wopples' indistinct features, and
then her husband introduced the rest of the family in a bunch.

'Gentlemen,' he said, waving his hand to the expectant ten, who
stood in a line of five male and five female, 'the celebrated
Wopples family.'

The ten all simultaneously bowed at this as if they were worked by
machinery, and then everyone sat down to supper, Mr Theodore Wopples
taking the head of the table. All the family seemed to admire him
immensely, and kept their eyes fastened on his face with
affectionate regard.

'Pa,' whispered Miss Siddons Wopples to Villiers, who sat next to
her, 'is a most wonderful man. Observe his facial expression.'

Villiers observed it, and admitted also in a whisper that it was
truly marvellous.

Cold beef formed the staple viand on the table, and everyone did
full justice to it, as also to beer and porter, of which Mr Wopples
was very generous.

'I prefer to give my friends good beer instead of bad champagne,' he