274 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 
when, to my inexpressible relief, on my left, near the 
door, at the top of the two long dining tables, was a 
small round one, at which sat some six or eight gentle- 
men. A single chair was unoccupied, and without cere- 
mony, I appropriated it to myself. 
‘“‘T never saw a man come in late to dinner who did not 
endeavor to look around on the company present, with 
that sort of expression which signifies ‘Who cares if I 
did come in late?’ I looked that way, and happened to 
feel so too; and as I cast my eyes on the gentlemen at 
my right and left, and before me, I paid no attention 
whatever to the cold stare I met with, as if intending 
to make me feel that I was intruding. 
“In this excellent humor with all the world and my- 
self, I asked the waiter with a loud voice for soup, hot if 
possible, and I found myself accommodated in the twink- 
ling of a ladle. I went to work lustily to lay the foun- 
dation of what my friend in the morning had promised, 
an extra splendid dinner. 
“ Oysters and fish, as a first course, seem to be 
founded in nature, reason, and taste,—I accordingly 
made the reflection to the gentleman on my right—he 
very formally assented to the proposition, and ate spar- 
ingly. I pressed him with great solicitude to follow my 
example,—and do justice to the viands before him. He 
suggested that he was troubled with a dyspepsia. This 
little conversation was received by the whole table with 
what I remember now, and then for a moment, thought 
