A humbug? But what did Soames mean? If Mr. Scoles was a humbug, a clergyman⁠—then anybody might be⁠—it was frightful!

“Well, and so they are!” said Soames.

During Aunt Juley’s momentary and horrified silence he caught some words of Irene’s that sounded like: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!”

But Swithin had finished his ham.

“Where do you go for your mushrooms?” he was saying to Irene in a voice like a courtier’s; “you ought to go to Smileybob’s⁠—he’ll give ’em you fresh. These little men, they won’t take the trouble!”