d with the other handed a plate of
buttered toast to Dr Hopley, who sat next him.

"I really cannot imagine," replied Miss Martha.

"No, cannot imagine," whispered Miss Jane.

"He promised to come, and to be punctual," continued Miss Martha
("Punctual," whispered Miss J), "but something seems to have detained
him. Perhaps--"

Here Miss Martha was brought to an abrupt pause by observing that Mr
Rokens was about to commence to eat his egg with a teaspoon.

"Allow me, Mr Rokens," she said, handing that individual an ivory
eggspoon.

"Oh, cer'nly, ma'am. By all means," replied Rokens, taking the spoon
and handing it to Miss Jane, under the impression that it was intended
for her.

"I beg pardon, it is for yourself, Mr Rokens," said Martha and Jane
together.

"Thank'ee, ma'am," replied Rokens, growing red, as he began to perceive
he was a little "off his course" somehow. "I've no occasion for _two_,
an' this one suits me oncommon."

"Ah! you prefer big spoons to little ones, my man, don't you?" said
Captain Dunning, coming to the rescue. "Let him alone, Martha, he's
used to take care of himself. Doctor, can you tell me now, which is the
easiest of digestion--a hard egg or a soft one?"

Thus appealed to, Dr Hopley paused a moment and frowned at the teapot,
as though he were about to tax his brain to the utmost in the solution
of an abstruse question in medical science.

"Well now," he replied, stirring his tea gently, and speaking with much
deliberation, "that depends very much upon circumstances. Some
digestions can manage a hard egg best, others find a soft one more
tractable. And then the state of the stomach at the time of eating has
to be taken into account. I should say now, that my little friend
Ailie, here, to judge from the rosy colour of her cheeks, could manage
hard or soft eggs equally well; couldn't you, eh?"

Ailie laughed, as she replied, "I'm sure I don't know, Doctor Hopley;
but I _like_ soft ones best."

To this, Captain Dunning said, "Of course you do, my sensible little
pet;" although it would be difficult to show wherein lay the sensibility
of the preference, and then added--"There's Rokens, now; wouldn't you,
doctor--judging from his rosy, not to say purple cheeks--conclude that
he wasn't able to manage even two eggs of any kind?"

"Wot, _me_!" exclaimed Mr Rokens, looking up in surprise, as indeed he
well might, having just concluded his fourth, and being about to
commence his