The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eee CS THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 105 [CAROLINE stantly commanding their feelings, they laid the soothing unction to their souls that hospitabie people very often speak modestly of the really handsome banquet which is forthcoming. This happy delusion was however speedily dis- Pelled by the entrance of the servant-of-all-work to lay the cloth, and by the appearance of the cold mutton, the dish of potatoes, and a large jug of water. Mr. Sneaksby and Mr. Paxwax exchanged mpid glances expressive of unmitigated disgust ; and even their last hope that something better than the limpid element from the spring might be forth- coming, was totally destroyed when they saw the servant Jeave the room without receiving any in- structions to fetch beer from the public-house. The three eldest Masters Brugg and Miss Tabitha Bragg were now introduced to take their places at the dinner-table, they having the privilege of dining with their parents; while a terrific stamping, scream- ing, and quarreling in the room overhead, showed WALTERS.} pretty plainly that the more juvenile olive-branches of the Brugg genuz were doomed to the ignominiou captivity of the nursery Mr. Juel Brugg now said a grace which lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour, and during which every one round the table held his head almost down into his plate: but Mr. Paxwax was all the while thinking to himself that the provender was by no | means commensurate with the thanksgiving. How- ever, as he was exceedingly hungry, in spite of the devilled kidneys and the egg-flip, he managed to de- vour his share of the cold mutton—an example which was worthily followed by the Rev. Nathaniel Sneaksby. For the sake of appearances they were likewise compelled to inflict the penalty of cold water upon their stomachs; and although Mr, Sneakaby gulped down his supply with as good a grace as he could assume, Mr. Paxwax could not possibly conceal rn abhorrence for the primitive flaid, . as CONMUCIIOW co