60 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
approach, a servant presented himself, and ushered us 
into the room where Count Trampe was waiting to 
welcome us. After having been presented to his wife, 
we proceeded to shake hands with the other guests, 
most of whom I already knew; and I was glad to find 
that, at all events in Iceland, people did not consider 
it necessary to pass the ten minutes which precede the 
announcement of dinner as if they had assembled to 
assist at the opening of their entertainer’s will, instead 
of his oysters. The company consisted of the chief 
dignitaries of the island, including the Bishop, the 
Chief Justice, &c. &c., some of them in uniform, and 
all with holiday faces. As soon as the door was opened, 
Count Trampe tucked me under his arm—two other 
gentlemen did the same to my two companions—and 
we streamed into the dining-room. The table was 
very prettily arranged with flowers, plate, and a forest 
of glasses. Fitzgerald and I were placed on either side 
of our host, the other guests, in due order, beyond. On 
my left sat the Hector, and opposite, next to Fitz, the 
chief physician of the island. Then began a series of 
transactions of which I have no distinct recollection; 
in fact, the events of the next five hours recur to me 
