the floor, no chair being
near, and the Twins solemnly established themselves on the top of him.
The others sat down all round the room in silence. What could I do? In
my cool moments I had thought of one or two topics of conversation, but
of course they ah deserted me now. All except the weather.

"Turned rather cold," I observed to Whipcord.

"Who?" exclaimed that worthy, with an alarmed face.

"I mean the weather's turned rather cold."

"Poor chap, pity he don't wear a top-coat."

"I say," said Doubleday, who had, to my great discomfort, been making a
tour of discovery round the room, "rather nice pictures some of these,
this one of Peace and Plenty's not half bad, is it, Whip?"

"Why you old ass, that's not Peace and Plenty, it's a Storm at Sea."

"Well, I don't care who it is, it's rattling good likenesses of them.
Hullo, Twins, don't you be going to sleep, do you hear?"

This was addressed to the two brothers, from under whom, at that moment,
Daly contrived suddenly to remove himself, leaving them to fall all of a
heap.

In the midst of the confusion caused by this accident, it occurred to me
we might as well begin supper; so I called the company to attention.

"We may as well begin," I said, "there's no one else to wait for. Will
you take that end, Doubleday?"

"I'm game," said Doubleday. "Now then, you fellows, tumble into your
seats, do you hear? We're jist a-going to begin, as the conjurer says.
I can tell you all I'm pretty peckish, too."

"So am I, rather," said Crow, winking at the company generally, who all
laughed.

Awful thought! Suppose there's not enough for them to eat after all!

I began to pour out the coffee wildly, hardly venturing to look round.
At last, however, I recollected my duties.

"That's an eel-pie in front of you, Doubleday," I said.

Now at all the parties I had been to I had never before seen an eel-pie.
I therefore flattered myself I had a novelty to offer to my guests.

"Eel-pie, eh?" said Doubleday; "do you catch them about here, then?
Eel-pie, who says eel-pie? Don't all speak at once. Bring forth the
hot plates, my boy, and we'll lead off."

"It's cold," I faltered.

"Oh, goodness gracious! _Cold_ eel-pie, gentlemen. You really must
_not_ all speak at once. Who says cold eel-pie? The Field-Marshal
does!"

"No, he doesn't," replied the Field-Marshal, laughing.

"Flanagan does, then?"

"No, thank you," said Flanagan.

"Well, you Twins; you