Groans and cheers.

Right sure was spokesman that Squire Pole was the friend of the poor man, and liked nothing better than to see him enjoy his holiday.  As why shouldn’t he enjoy his holiday now and then, and have a bit of relaxation as well as other men?

Acquiescent token on the part of the new dignitary, Squire Pole.

Spokesman was hereby encouraged to put it boldly, whether a man was not a man all the world over.

“For a’ that!” was sung out by some rare bookworm to rearward:  but no Scot being present, no frenzy followed the quotation.

It was announced that the Club had come to do homage to Squire Pole and ladies:  the Junction Club of Ipley and Hillford.  What did Junction mean?  Junction meant Harmony.  Harmonious they were, to be sure:  so they joined to good purpose.

Mr. Barrett sought Emilia’s eyes smilingly, but she was intent on the proceedings.

A cry of “Bundle o’ sticks, Tom Breeks.  Don’t let slip ‘bout bundle o’ sticks,” pulled spokesman up short.  He turned hurriedly to say, “All right,” and inflated his chest to do justice to the illustration of the faggots of Aesop:  but Mr. Tom Breeks had either taken in too much air, or the ale that had hitherto successfully prompted him was antipathetic to the nice delicacy of an apologue; for now his arm began to work and his forehead had to be mopped, and he lashed the words “Union and Harmony” right and left, until, coming on a sentence that sounded in his ears like the close of his speech, he stared ahead, with a dim idea that he had missed a point.  “Bundle o’ sticks,” lustily shouted, revived his apprehension; but the sole effect was to make him look on the ground and lift his hat on the point of a perplexed finger.  He could not conceive how the bundle of sticks was to be brought in now; or what to say concerning them.  Union and Harmony:—­what more could be said?  Mr. Tom Breeks tried a remonstrance with his backers.  He declared to them that he had finished, and had brought in the Bundle.  They replied that they had not heard it; that the Bundle was the foundation—­sentiment of the Club; the first toast, after the Crown; and that he must go on until the Bundle had been brought in.  Hereat, the unhappy man faced Squire Pole again.  It was too abject a position for an Englishman to endure.  Tom Breeks cast his hat to earth.  “I’m dashed if I can bring in the bundle!”

There was no telling how conduct like this might have been received by the Yellow-and-Blues if Mr. Barrett had not spoken.  “You mean everything when you say “Union,” and you’re quite right not to be tautological.  You can’t give such a blow with your fingers as you can with your fists, can you?”

Up went a score of fists.  “We’ve the fists:  we’ve the fists,” was shouted.

Cornelia, smiling on Mr. Barrett, asked him why he had confused the poor people with the long word “tautological.”