Meat would not keep, and my father could get plenty of flappers--i.e.
ducks that cannot yet fly--when he was on the river-bed down below.
The above preparations had not been made very long, before Mrs. Humdrum
arrived, followed presently by Dr. Downie and in due course by the
Professors, who were still staying in the house. My father remembered
Mrs. Humdrum's good honest face, but could not bring Dr. Downie to his
recollection till the Doctor told him when and where they had met, and
then he could only very uncertainly recall him, though he vowed that he
could now do so perfectly well.
"At any rate," said Hanky, advancing towards him with his best Bridgeford
manner, "you will not have forgotten meeting my brother Professor and
myself."
"It has been rather a forgetting sort of a morning," said my father
demurely, "but I can remember that much, and am delighted to renew my
acquaintance with both of you."
As he spoke he shook hands with both Professors.
George was a little late, but when he came, dinner was announced. My
father sat on Yram's right-hand, Dr. Downie on her left. George was next
my father, with Mrs. Humdrum opposite to him. The Professors sat one on
either side of the Mayor. During dinner the conversation turned almost
entirely on my father's flight, his narrow escape from drowning, and his
adventures on his return to England; about these last my father was very
reticent, for he said nothing about his book, and antedated his accession
of wealth by some fifteen years, but as he walked up towards the statues
with George he told him everything.
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