The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

20 THE STEAM PACKET, that was a good work, sir—a very clever work, sir; though I say it who should not say it!” ‘¢ T dare say that no one has a better right to say so than yourself, Mr. Humm Bugg,” returned the captain. “Delighted with your good opinion, my dear sir!” ejaculated the critic, rubbing his hands. “ Faith! didn’t I review it well in my own magazine! But I will enclose you a copy to-morrow morning !” ‘* T am really very much obliged—” began Captain Pentonville. “Oh! not at all,” said the author; “ it will only be ten shillings and sixpence! Come—I may as well write out the receipt at once —nothing like business before dinner ;’’—and, flying to a table, he seized writing materials, scribbled out a receipt for the sum men- tioned, and handed it to the captam; who, however, paid it with a not over-good grace, as this disbursement left nothing but a four- penny piece in the corner of his pocket, where it lay as forlorn and desolate as the last rose of summer. ““Come, come,” said Mr. ee ; “a truce to business—here is the servant to announce dinner.” This was the fact—a most welcome one to the critic it was too. The captain gave his arm to the fair Aramintha; Mr. Bugg escorted Mrs. Pifpaf; and the papa followed with the volatile and.the musical young ladies. The dinner passed off without any incident worthy of relation—save the fear that Mrs. Pifpaf expressed, that her poor head would not allow her to eat a morsel, and then the kindness which her poor head showed her in permitting her to partake most heartily of every dish produced. Mr. Bugg also addressed himself with great zeal to the good things before him—which was not by any means astonishing, as at the moment when he received Mr. Pifpaf’s invitation he had not expected to see anything in the shape of a dinner until after the next magazine day. In the evening there was a party, which Miss Avenainelia deno- minated a conversazione, Miss Belinda a regular drum, and Miss Sarah a soirée. Be its appellation whatever it might, it was attended by a numerous sprinkle of the most influential members of the Honourable and Independent Club of Luminaries, and by a gay assortment of ladies residing in the vicinity. Mrs. Pifpaf declared to each of her guests, one after another, that she was so disappointed at not having the pleasure of Lord Noodleton’s company, as expected; but, by way of recompense, she was honoured with the company of Alderman Clobbs and Mr. Under-Sheriff Biggs; and she therefore had no reason to regret the heavy expense which she had incurred, on this occasion, in providing a good supper. The evening passed away Gomichbooks (E{0)