FEEDING TIME. 121 



" This is the divil's own quare soop ; I have n*t finished one 

 plateful, and it goes against my stumuch intirely." 'q 



" I do n't wonder at it, Sir." 



" Sure you do n*t think there 's pyson in it — eh ? It tastes for 

 all the world as if the cook made a mistake and put in pigtail 

 instead of leeks." 



" Could n't you see, that they sent it up here from the other 

 end of the table, because that fat gentleman, with a blind eye, 

 dropped his snuff box into it, by accident, whilst he was taking 

 a pinch ?'' 



" Nick, I '11 trouble you for some of the gravy of that pie/' 



" I want some myself, too, but there is not a single spoon on 

 this table." s ^m-; 



" Well, knock the foot off that salt-cellar, and put the salt into 

 Smith's tumbler of porter, whilst he 's groping under the table 

 for his toothpick — You must learn to make shift sometimes.'' 



After dinner comes the consideration of wine and grog ; some 

 sober people evacuate their seats altogether and travel homeward 

 for a cup of tea : some would aid chymification with the fumes 

 of a cigar; and divers groups may be noted consulting on the 

 most economical method of splicing the main brace. 



" What 's the use of paying sixpence a glass, here, for grog; 

 when we can get it at the * Crown and Anchor,' or the * Pig 

 and Thunderbolt,' for fourpence, come, come along. What 's 

 the use of paying the price of three glasses for two ? " 



Many in calculating without their host, had a notion that the 

 two shilling tickets for dinner would not only afford them an 

 opportunity of laying in a good store of solids, but also of getting 

 glorious with potations, pottle deep, of wine, afterwards. . 



'* Waiter, I '11 trouble you for a bottle of wine." 



" Port or Sherry, Sir ? " 



" O ! I 'm not particular, which ever is handyest." 



" Three and sixpence, if you please. Sir ? " 



" Three and sixpence ! I 've paid two shillings already for a 

 dinner ticket." 



" We do n't give wine with dinner, Sir." 



" Well, never mind, I 'm not difficult to please, bring me a 

 jug of grog." 



^* Rum or gin. Sir ? " 



"Why, rum— I think." 



" Eighteen pence, Sir,— please ? " 

 VOL. v.— 1835. Q 



