SOMETHING LIKE COMFORT. 117 



will tlieii he/' said 1, laugliing, '' ex-^train'cous 

 subjects; so you sliall not be annoyed by tliem 

 again/^ 



" Oh_, oil ! " cried my friend, holding up his 

 hands " puns are always bad enough, but such a 

 pun " 



" Has/^ interrupted I, " nothing pun-gent in 

 it, but '' 



" Will you try if a deviPd bone has ? ^^ said my 

 host, seeing the tray brought in. 



" Bond fide, I will," replied I. 



After cooling the effects of the devil on our 

 palate with some blanc-mange, a bit of stilton in 

 first-rate condition just rendered it in proper cue 

 to appreciate the moists of some bottled Scotch 

 ale. The appurtenances of supper disappearing, 

 as in such cases they alwaj^s should, in accordance 

 with good taste, quickly, cigars were placed before 

 us j Fribourg^s old stagers, with a '' bunch of ma- 

 terials" fitted for the moment; the hour the 

 modest one of ten. If my ideas are not quite 

 incorrect, I hold such practice and such hours, 

 in the country, as coming near the point of 

 rationality. 



" Pray," said my friend, " and I am sure you 

 know I only ask as a guidance for my own mea- 

 sures on any future occasion, may I ask wliat 

 course you mean to adopt to get rid of my un- 



1 3 



