n the ladies in the drawing-room.

This important duty was scarcely effected, before Saunders entered with
a tray covered with dainties, which he had catered for my benefit.

"I was determined, Mr. Geoffrey, that they should not have all the good
things to themselves. Here is an excellent cut of salmon and
lobster-sauce; the plump breast of a partridge, and a slice of
delicious ham--besides, the sunkets. If you cannot make a good dinner
off these, why, I says, that you deserves to be hungry."

And throwing a snowy napkin over a small table near the fire, he
deposited the tray and its tempting contents thereon, placed my chair,
and stood behind it with beaming eyes, his jolly, rosy face radiant
with good-nature and benevolence.

I thanked him heartily for his attention to my comfort, and being tired
and hungry, did ample justice to the meal he had provided.

"This party has been got up in a hurry, Saunders?"

"Not at all, sir. I carried out the invitations four days ago."

"You surprise me!" said I, dropping my knife and fork. "Four days
ago--and I know nothing about it. That is something new."

"It is young Mr. Moncton's doings, sir. The party is given in honour of
his return. Says Mr. Theophilus to the Guv'nor, says he, 'I shall say
nothing to Geoffrey, about it. What a capital joke it will be, to see
him bolt into the room without studying the Graces for an hour.' I
think it was the Graces, he said, sir; but whether it's a law book, or
a book of fashions, sir, hang me if I can tell."

"But why did not you give me a hint of this, my good fellow?"

"Why, sir," said Saunders, hesitating and looking down, "everybody in
this world has his troubles, and I, sir, have mine. Trouble, sir, makes
a man forget every one's affairs but his own; and so, sir, the thing
slipped quite out of my 'ead."

"And what has happened to trouble such a light heart as yours,
Saunders?"

"Ah, sir!" sighing and shaking his head, "you remember Jemima, the
pretty chamber maid, who lives at Judge Falcon's, across the street; I
am sure you must, sir, for no one that saw Jemima once could forget
her; and it was your first praising her that made me cast an eye upon
her. Well, sir, I looked and loved, and became desperate about her, and
offered her my 'onest 'and and 'eart, sir, and she promised to become
my wife. Yes, indeed, she did; and we exchanged rings, and lucky
sixpences and all that; and I gave master warning for next week; and
took