The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Yes, ma’am,” was the response. “He said, as usual, that we were to get him what we liked, so as he wasn’t troubled about it—only that he didn’t want any more poultry for the present.” “Then that’s capital!’ cried Mrs. Macaulay, her countenance becoming radiant. “‘There’s this fowl that he’s only eaten a wing of for to-day’s dinner, and which he won’t think of having up again. Iam sure I should be the last person in the world to make use of it if I wasn’t certain that he would not want it. And as for leaving it here to get as dry as a stick by Monday morning, and then be told that he didn’t wish to see it brought up to table again it would be quite a sin! So [I tell you what, Susan—cut it up—make the one wing look as much like two as possible, by dividing the pinion—and broil it all with mushroom sauce. There are some _ pickled mushrooms in a bottle somewhere. Yes—atter | ames 157 Scearcely were the Chowleys seated, when there was a terrific knock and violent ring at the front door; and Captain Bluff was in a few moments announced. This was a guest of whom Mrs. Macaulay had reason to be proud, on account of the prefix of “Captain’—although the gailant officer himself did not wear any particular uni- form, for the simple reason that none is worn by the commanders of the Gravesend steam-packets, to which service Captain Bluff was honourably attached. The Captain—who was a red-faced, weather-beaten man, dressed all in blue, with a blue-checked shirt—was warmly greeted by his hostess, and duly presented to the other guests, to whom he was previously unknown. At first tne Miss Chowleys—who were very ugly and very affected, and embued with the most exquisite ap- preciation of everything which was aristccratic and genteel—thought it necessary to be amazingly all it will be a beautiful little supper; and I know | disgusted, inasmuch as the Captain brought with Mrs. Dumpling will be ready to bite her own head | him an unmistakable odour of rum and strong off with envy and jealousy when she thinks of her | Cubas: but their looks and their manner changed own trumpery suppers of stale tarts and curraut- wine.” Having arrived at all these very comfortable and satisfactary conclusions, Mrs. Macaulay gave out the tea, coffee, and sugar, as well as the silver tea-spoons, which she carefully counted; and with many injunctions against breaking any of the best china tea-service, she sailed forth from the kitchen. Ascending to her chamber, which was behind the parlour, she performed her toilet; and at five minutes before seven she lighted the mould- candles in the sitting-room just named. Then— in all the glory of a new black silk-gown, a cap with pink ribbons, her gold watch and chain, and a large fan which she had won in a sixpenny raffle twenty-five years previously—she took her seat to await the presence of the company. At five minutes past seven there was a double knock at the door; and the servant ushered in Mr. and Mrs. Wanklin—the former a short, sedate, sentimental-looking, pale-faced man in spectacles —the latter a tall, stately, consequential dame— and both of “a certain age.’ They dwelt in the neighbourhood—Mr. Wanklin keeping a circulat- ing library on one side of a little shop, and Mrs. Wanklin a Berlin wool emporium by means of the window, shelves, and counter of the opposite side. This arrival was speedily followed by that of Miss Spilsbury—a tall, gaunt, maiden lady of fifty, with a hatchet face and a demure look—a brown false front, and a slate-coloured silk dress, very scanty im the skirt. She had an independence of seventy- five pounds a year, and was therefore much thought of by her friends and acquaintances. She was fol- lowed by Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk—a stout, bald-headed, pragmatic individual—sententious in his speech, and sepulchral in his tone. Then eame Mrs. Chowley and the two Miss Chowleys— the mamma being a young widow of fifty-six or so, and “the girls” e she called them) being respectively thirty-two and thirty. This delightful family kept a baby-linen warehouse in the Totten- ham Court Road; and as Mrs. Chowley’s brother was butler in a Duke’s family, and her great- grandfather had been coachman to some other Duke in the time of George IT, the said delightful family was considered exceedingly aristocratic in all its connexions and associations. all in a moment, when Mrs. Macaulay hastily whispered to them aside, that her very particular friend Captain Bluff had a few pounds in the Funds and was a single man; so that the young ladies most amiably made room for this jolly young bachelor of eight-and-forty to sit between them on one side of the fire-place. The Captain’s arrival was promptly followed by that of Mrs. Dumpling, who was a stout, red- faced, important dame—very fond of mixing her- self up in her neighbours’ concerns—very much given to gossiping and scandal—and equally so to strong waters, under whatsoever denominations— whether gin, rum, brandy, or shrub. On entering the apartment, she cast her looks around ;. and then fixing her gaze significantly upon Mrs. Macaulay, said, “So she has not come yet?” “ Why, I dare say,” was the answer of the worthy hostess, ‘‘ that Mrs. Sifkin wants you all to be assembled first, and gives you time for the purpose; so that her own appearance may have a becoming effect. And it’s very right and proper on her part too: because, you know,” added Mrs. Macaulay, looking around, “that Mrs. Sitkin is in duty bound to offer me her hand jirst when sae enters the room.” Hereupon a discussion arose,—Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk, gravely and sententiously expressing his opinion that as Mrs. Macaulay was the hostess, and as she had already received an apology from Mrs. Sifkin, conveyed through Mrs. Dumpling, it was only consistent with good breeding that Mrs. Macaulay should be foremost in welcoming her late enemy. Mr. Wanklin was of the same sent- ment, which he confirmed by a quotation from a novel in his own circulating library: Mrs. Chow- ley followed on: the same side, observing that from her connexions she had peculiar opportu- nities of laying down the law of etiquette on such a delicate point. ‘This remark enabled the elder Miss Chowley—who had already set her cap at the Captain—to seize the occasion of whisper- ing in his ear that her uncle was butler in a Duke’s household, and that her great-great- grandfather had been coachman to some other Duke: whereat Captain Bluff expressed his ad- miration by a knowing wink, and looked towards the cupboard as if he were longing to make him- nm a tee ——— 6)(0)(0) S (C(O)