the first place the table had on it a clean
linen cover, not riddled with holes nor spotted with iron mould.
It was exceptional for any table in the Punch-Bowl to be spread
with linen. There stood on it plated and red earthenware dishes,
and on the latter many good things. At one end was a cold rabbit
pie. Rabbits were, indeed, a glut in Thursley, but such a pie
was a phenomenon.

Bideabout's mind was exercised over it. He was curious to know
whether the interior corresponded to the promise without. He
inserted a knife and lifted the crust just sufficiently to allow
him to project his nose to the edge of the dish and inhale the
savor of the contents. "My word!" said he, "there's stuffin'.
Rabbit and stuffin'. Wot next--and egg. I can see the glimmer
of the white and yaller."

He rose from his stooping posture and saw Samuel Rocliffe at the
window.

He beckoned to him to enter, and then showed him the table. "Did
you ever see the likes?" he asked. "You ain't invited, Sam, but
you can look over it all. There's a posy of flowers in the middle
of the table, genteel like, as if it were a public house dinner
to a club, and look at this pie. Do you see how crinkled it is
all round, like the frill of your mother's nightcap? That was done
with the scissors, and there's a gloss over the top. That were
effected with white o' egg. Just think of that! using white o' egg
when eggs is eighteen a shilling, for making the pie shine like
your face o' Sundays after you've yaller-soaped it. There's stuffin'
inside."

"I wish there were in my inside," said Samuel, surlily.

"You ain't invited. Do you see that thing all of a trimble over
there, a sort of pale ornamental cooriosity? That's called a
blue-mange. It's made of isinglass and milk and rice flour. It's
not for ornament, but to be eaten, by such as is invited. There
they come! You cut away. If you was a few years older, we might
have invited you. But there ain't room for boys."

The unfortunate Samuel sulkily retired, casting envious eyes at
the more favored denizens of the Punch-Bowl who were arriving to
partake of the viands only shown to him.

The guests streamed in and took their places. They enjoyed the
feast prepared, and passed encomiums on their hostess for her
cookery. All fought shy at first of the blanc-mange. None had seen
such a confection previously, and each desired that his fellow
should taste before committing himself to a helping.

Mrs. Verstage had sen