128 STAPLE FARE 



'' Pitchcockecl eels and mutton chops, sir," was tlio 

 answer. 



" I might have known that," said he, good-humouredly. 

 " Well, that must do." 



The landlady disappeared to give the necessary orders. 



"The staple commodity here, sir," continued he, in the 

 same strain, but addressing me ; " I have used this house 

 five-and-tAventy years and never had any other answer. 



" You've not dined, have you? " added he, with all the 

 manner of an old acquaintance. 



" No, I was about to partake of the same fare." 



" Then we'll dine together. Dick," cried he to the 

 waiter, " lay the cloth for two." 



"Where, sir ? " 



" In the best room in the house, to be sure. Mij wine, 

 remember." 



"Yes, sir." 



" I am obliged to be particular," he observed, again 

 turning to me, " or they'd give you sloe juice and call it 

 port wine. Excuse me for ten minutes, I have a call to 

 make, but shall be back by the time the first course is 

 ready." 



In the meantime, I took possession of the best room, 

 which by the hostess's directions had been put to rights 

 — that is, the floor had been fresh sanded, all that could 

 be done at so short a notice, and all it needed ; for half- 

 a-dozen chairs and an old club-footed mahogany table, a 

 steel fender with an edge sharp enough to sever any 

 limb from the body that might accidentally fall on it, 

 with some very lean fire-irons, that might have been 

 forged by Tubal Cain himself, were all the room con- 



