The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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the cups “whieh cheered without inebriating ” were passed round, to the satisfaction of all pre- sent save that of Captain Bluff, who, though he tossed off a cup of coffee at one draught, had all his thoughts settled upon rum. When the tea- things were cleared away, there was a round game,—from which however Mr. Chubb, the parish elerk, requested to be omitted, on the ground that ig was inconsistent with the solemnity and piety of his clerical calling; and he remembered also that he had a few baptismal certificates to fill up at home. §o, having been enreful to ascertain at what hour supper would be on table, he begged to be excused in the meanwhile. The round very well without him, and was only once disturbed by an iusinua- tion on the part of Mrs. Sifkin that Mrs. Dump- ling had purloined eome of her fish: bat the former lady suffered berself to be appeased by the circum- stanee of Captain Bluff considerately given her a handful of his own—an act of kindness which was performed just in time to savo Mre. Dumpling from the disagreedbie ordeal of having her eyes seratched cut by her vixenish acouser. Chris- tian might have made a similar accusation, and with oonsitterable truth too, if he had chosen, ¢ Miss Spilsbury: for if this highly re- spectable maiden lady, who liyed upon an inde- pendence and was considered “quite genteel,” ept very quiet in respect to her tongue, she was very busy with her fingers; and every time she thought Chfistian was not looking, she pilfered his fish,—endeavouring to conceal the theft under a short cough and a fumbling for her pocket handkerchief. Christian however suffered himself to be robbed with a most exemplary patience—a circumstance which raised him so high in Miss Spilsbury’s éstimation, that when the round game was over, she whispered to Mre. Macaulay, loud enough for him to overhear, that ho was the nicest young man she had ever met in all her life. Phe round game being finished, the maid en- tered to lay the cloth for supper; and Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk, now re-appeared,—emelling very strong of tobacco-emoke, looking very red in the face, and having a certain watery vacant stare about the oye. This however would not have oe- casioned any wonder on the part of the company, if they had known that instead of retiring into the bosom of his own family to write eut basptiemal certificates, ‘he had been all the time in the hot our of thé public-honse round the corner, emoking his pipe and moistening his lips with three successive pints of strong old Kennet ale— & proceeding which the ecclesiastical gentleman doubtless regarded as fgar more innocent and like- wise as more orthodox than joining in a round game of “ commerce.” While the servant was lsying the cloth, Mrs. Macaulay affeeted to be conversing in a perfectly calm and untroubled manner, though in reality she was watching askance every movement and arrangement of her domestic, for fear lest she should do something wrong; and she could not help interspersing her conversation with frequent hints and orders to the girl. “Well, as I wag saying,’ Mrs. Macaulay ob- werved, “it would be impossible to have a nicer or better lodger than Mr. Redcliffe. He never troubles himecif about-——the pepper-box on that | 159 side, Jane-———what he is going to have for dinner, as long as his meals are served up regular. He ls very quict the mustard in this corner, Jene ——-taiks very little to anybody——look! the cloth is all tumbled-~——but is out a great deal, I am eure for the life of me I don’t know what he can always be doing with himeelf——do take care, Jane!———and the other night he stayed out so very late I was quite frightened the pie at thie ond, Jane!” —s. “ Genelmen will stay out late sometimes,” ob- served Captain Bluff; and he winked knowingly at the first male countenanese which met his eye at the moment, and which happened to be thaé of Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk, who instantaneously put on an air of indignation, which, inasmuch as it was a tipsy one, only had the effect of making Captain Bluff burst out into a shout of uprosriows — laughter. “Did you mean that look and thet langh for me, sir ?”’ inquired Mr. Chubb, in the deepest of his sepulchral tones, and endeavouring to appear very awfully solemn indeed. Well, I did—and that’s the trath on’t!” re- turned Captain Bluff: “so you can put it in your pipe and smoke it; and -if so be it’s 9 sort of bakker you ain’t used to, you must make the besé of the bargin.” Here Mr. Chubb rose from his seat, and was either about to appeal to the company or else to make a personal assault upon Captain Bluff, when the elder Miss Chowley threw herselt be- tween them, and availed herself of the opportunity to get up a most interesting httle tragedy of affright, entreaty, and bysterieal symptoms,—nos forgetting to implore the Captain to master his temper and epare Aer feclings. “Oh! let him get the steam up,” vyoeiferated Bluff: “he’s precious cranky and will soon bust his biler.”’ Mr. Ghabb looked round with awe-inspiring dismay. Tho idea that a parish clerk should be thus insulted—thus outraged! What would the world come to next? This dreadful question did Mr. Chubb’s countenance appear to ask, in der fault of the power of his tongue to say anything af ail. * Come, old feller,” said Bluff, whe was really a very good-natured man, “I didn’t mean to offend you. If that there twenty-horse power steam- ingin which is working in your buzszum goes too fact, ease her and stop ber; but don’t go for to keep down the safety-walve with the sartainty of busting outright in a minute or two. . Here, tip. us your paddle, and let’s sit down to mess as good friends.” “ Amen!” groaned Mr. Chubb, as he extended the hand which, figuratively described as a paddle, the gallant Captain had so blantly soli- cited. Supper was now served up. The veal-pio stood at the head of the table—the dish of oysters ia the middle—the sausages and mashed potatoes at the bottom. The broiled fowl, with the mushroom sauce, looked very handsome as a side-dish—and in ordey to correspond therewith, the thoughtfal servant hatl placed on the opposite side an apple- tart, which had been meade for Mr. Redciiffe’s dinner on the morrow, but which the said thought- ful Jane had taken it into her head might just as ee THE MYGTERIES OF THE COURT. — (GO) an (C DOO Col