*A DINNER FOR THREE' 173 



was the cause of old Mr. Wreford's ruin. The son, 

 when too late, was put under restraint, and did not live 

 long. The father, on the other hand, lived to a good 

 old age. 



Mr. Wreford was a very fine strong man, and reported 

 in his younger days to have been the possessor of an 

 enormous appetite. He once called at the Gloster 

 Coffee House, Piccadilly, now the St. James's Hotel, 

 and ordered dinner for three. At the appointed time he 

 turned up himself, and on inquiring for his friends, was 

 told they had not arrived. He said he would not wait, 

 and commenced. Not perhaps having been brought up 

 in the most refined society, he was one who studied 

 comfort more than appearances. After partaking of the 

 various dishes as they came up with each successive 

 course, he at last came to what he had specially ordered 

 a goose, a dish of which of all things he was most 

 fond. This he attacked, in the brief absence of the 

 waiter for a few minutes, disdaining to use the plate 

 which had been placed for him, but grappling with the 

 bird in the dish itself, and, as he got through it, 

 throwing the bones over his shoulder into the fireplace 

 behind him. To his astonishment, when the waiter 

 returned, he found the goose had almost disappeared, 

 without the usual fragmentary relics, which had been 

 disposed of as I have said. The man in his bewilder- 

 ment looked at Mr. Wreford, who blandly explained : 



' In eating small birds like these, waiter, I generally 

 eat them bones and all.' 



His simple habits and preference of comfort to 

 ostentation were, of course, displayed in his home. He 

 used to have his fried bacon and potatoes served from 

 the frying-pan, which stood on the hob of the fireplace 

 in his breakfast-room, on to a nice hot plate. On one 



