Both proceedings
were rather tumultuous, but, amid the clamour they necessitated, no
word of ill-temper could be heard; screams of laughter, on the other
hand, were frequent. With manifest pride the little servant came in
to lay the table; she only broke one glass in the operation, and her
"Sure now, who'd have thought it!" as she looked at the fragments,
delighted Alexander beyond measure. The chief dish was a stewed
rabbit, smothered in onions; after it appeared an immense gooseberry
tart, the pastry hardly to be attacked with an ordinary table knife.
Compromising for the nonce with his teetotalism as well as his
vegetarianism--not to pain the hosts--Piers drank bottled ale.
It was an uproarious meal. The little servant, whilst in attendance,
took her full share of the conversation, and joined shrilly in the
laughter. Mrs. Otway had arrayed herself in a scarlet gown, and her
hair was picturesquely braided. She ceased not from hospitable
cares, and set a brave example in eating and drinking. Yet she was
never vulgar, as an untaught London woman in her circumstances would
have been, and many a delightful phrase fell from her lips in the
mellow language of County Wexford.
When the remnants of dinner were removed, a bottle of Irish whisky
came forth, with the due appurtenances. Then it was that Alexander,
with pride in his eyes, made known Bridget's one accomplishment; she
had a voice, and would presently use it for their guest's
delectation.
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