ld have been too much to hope from the sublime
endurance of a martyr,--if ever there was one more patient than he.
Seeing the Lintons and the Greggs arrive, he craftily awaited his
opportunity, and slipped off, to give them a turn on the gridiron. First
Linton was secured; and you should have seen him roll his mute,
appealing orbs, as he settled helplessly down under the infliction.
Suddenly he made a dash. "I am ignorant of these matters," said he; "but
Gregg understands them;--Gregg will talk with you." But Gregg took
refuge behind the ladies. The ladies receiving a hint from poor
distressed Dolly, scattered. But no artifice availed against the
dreadful man. Piazza, parlor, garden,--he ranged everywhere, and was
sure to seize a victim.

At last tea was ready, and we all went in. The Lintons and Greggs are
people of the world, who would hardly have cared to wait for a blessing
on such lovely heaps of strawberries and mugs of cream as they saw
before them; but, there being two clergymen at the table, the ceremony
was evidently expected. We were placidly seated; there was a hush,
agreeably filled with the fragrance of the delicious fruit: even my
uncle Popworth, from long habit, turned off his talk at that suggestive
moment: when I did what I thought a shrewd thing. I knew too well my
relative's long-windedness at his devotions, as at everything else (I
wonder if Heaven itself isn't bored by such fellows!)--I had suffered, I
had seen my guests suffer, too much from him already,--to think of
deliberately yielding him a fearful advantage over us; so I coolly
passed him by, and gave an expressive nod to the old Doctor.

Wortleby began; and I was congratulating myself on my adroit management
of a delicate matter, when--conceive my consternation!--Popworth--not to
speak it profanely--followed suit! The reverend egotist couldn't take in
the possibility of anybody but himself being invited to say grace at our
table, he being present;--he hadn't noticed my nod to the Doctor, and
the Doctor's low, earnest voice didn't reach him;--and there, with one
blessing going on one side of the table, he, as I said, pitched in on
the other! His eyes shut, his hands spread over his plate, his elbows on
the board, his head bowed, he took care that grace should abound with us
for once! His mill started, I knew there was no stopping it, and I hoped
Wortleby would desist. But he didn't know his man. He seemed to feel
that he had the stroke-oar,