82 SMALL DINNER. 



minutive bone spoons, ornamented the op- 

 posite corners. 



The waiter bearing the eels, and my new 

 acquaintance, entered at the same time, and 

 we both seated ourselves at the table. He 

 seemed by no means discomposed by the 

 homeliness of all around him, for, taking up 

 one of the forks, he jammed it twice or 

 thrice through the homespun, advising me 

 to do the same, as it was the only way, he 

 said, to ensure clean steel. 



The marks which this hasty operation left 

 behind gave ample proof of its necessity, 

 but did not prevent either of us making as 

 good a meal as the scanty supply of fish, 

 with a chop to follow, allowed. This 

 dispatched, with rather a wry face at the 

 misquoted sherry, the waiter entered with 

 the pastry. 



" Is this all you have in the house? " said 

 my friend. 



" That's what mistress allows generally to 

 two gentlemen, Sir," replied the waiter. 



