'The reason I know what an extraordinary effect these few days have had on me is something I have just done which I couldn't have done before. Of course I'm naturally a very powerful man, and only need a little--' 'What have you done?' 'Why--you know that great ridiculous old wooden chest that your awful Aunt Matilda sent you for your birthday--absurd present I call it--mere lumber.' 'Yes?' 'When it came I could barely push it from one side of the room to the other. Now I've lifted it from your room to the box-room. Quite easily. Pretty good, isn't it?' 'Yes, of course it's very good for you to do all these exercises; no doubt it's capital.... Er--you know I've had all the things taken out of the chest since you tried it before, don't you?' 'Things--what things? I didn't know there was anything in it.' 'Only a silver tea-service, and a couple of salvers,' said Edith, in a low voice.... ...He calmed down fairly soon and said: 'Edith, I have some news for you. You know the Mitchells?' 'Do I know the _Mitchells_? Mitchell, your hero in your office, that you're always being offended with--at _least_ I know the Mitchells by _name_. I ought to.' 'Well, what do you think they've done? They've asked us to dinner.' 'Have they? Fancy!' 'Yes, and what I thought was so particularly jolly of him was that it was a verbal invitation. Mitchell said to me, just like this, 'Ottley, old chap, are you doing anything on Sunday evening?'' Here Archie came to the door and said, 'Mother, can I have your long buttonhook?' Edith shook her head and frowned. ''Ottley, old chap,'' continued Bruce, ''are you and your wife doing anything on Sunday? If not, I do wish you would waive ceremony and come and dine with us. Would Mrs Ottley excuse a verbal invitation, do you think?' I said, 'Well, Mitchell, as a matter of fact I don't believe we have got anything on. Yes, old boy, we shall be delighted.' I accepted, you see. I accepted straight out. When you're treated in a friendly way, I always say why be unfriendly? And Mrs Mitchell is a charming little woman--I'm sure you'd like her. It seems she's been dying to know you.' 'Fancy! I wonder she's still alive, then, because you and Mitchell have known each other for eight years, and I've never met her yet.' 'Well, you will now. Let bygones be bygones. They live in Hamilton Place.' 'Oh yes....Park Lane?' 'I told you he was doing very well, and his wife has private means.' 'Mother,' Archie began again, like a litany, 'can I have your long buttonhook? I know where it is.' 'No, Archie, certainly not; you can't fasten laced boots with a buttonhook.... Well, that will be fun, Bruce.' 'I believe they're going to have games after dinner,' said Bruce. 'All very jolly--musical crambo--that sort of thing.... What shall you wear, Edith?' 'Mother, do let me have your long buttonhook. I want it. It isn't for my boots.'