"h.e.l.lo, Dave!" shouted everyone. He said "Well!" and dropped his hat in a corner. No fuss, no kissing, no nothing about Dave. Mother asked if he did n"t see Kate and Sandy (both were smiling across the room at him), and he said "Yairs"; then went out to have a wash.
All night they danced--until the c.o.c.ks crew--until the darkness gave way to the dawn--until the fowls left the roost and came round the door--until it was Christmas Day!