ECONOMY lL>i> 



tained in the shape of furniture. The table was covered 

 with a cloth that matched the floor in colour and even- 

 ness of surface. Some black-handled knives and forks 

 were properly disposed at each end, Avhile two bloAvn- 

 glass salt-cellars, with diminutive bone spoous, orna- 

 mented the opposite 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 bv 

 the homeliness of all around him, for, takiug 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 insure clean steel. 



The marks which this hasty operation left behind gave 

 ample proof of its necessity, but did not prevent either of 

 us makiug as good a meal as the scanty supply of fish, 

 with a chop to follow, allowed. This despatched, 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 gentle- 

 men, sir," replied the waiter. Then, gently removing a 

 crust of the colour and consistency of a jDiece of parch- 

 ment, my friend counted twenty bottled gooseberries at 

 the bottom of a very shallow dish. 



" Economy is the order of the day here," I said. 



" You might have given it a more appropriate name, I 

 think," he replied. 



But to say no more of this very spare meal, and 

 the observations it gave rise to, for which the port wine 

 that bore his name made ample amends, I found myself in 



VOL. II. K 



