ed
many a _calf s head to dance_ about in his time, and now he had met
with a rich return. "I'll bring an action against the landlord for the
carelessness of his waiter." "You had better not," said the alderman.
"Why not, sir?" replied the smarting son of Terpsichore. "Because you
have only _one leg to stand on_." This sally produced a general laugh,
and restored all to good humour. On the appearance of a fine cod's head
and shoulders, the ~96~~rosy gills of Marigold seemed to extend with
extatic delight; while a dozen voices assailed him at once with "I'll
take fish, if you please." "Ay, but you don't take me for a fag: if
you please, gentlemen, I shall help the ladies first, then myself and
friend, and afterwards you may divide the _omnium and scrip_ just as you
please."

"What a strange animal!" whispered the dancing master to his next
neighbour, an old conveyancer. "Yes, sir," replied the man of law, "a
city shark, I think, that will swallow all our share of the fish."

"Don't you think, Mr. Alderman," said a lusty lady on the opposite side
of the table, "the fish is rather _high_?"

"No, ma'ain, it's my opinion," (looking at the fragments) "the company
will find it rather low."

"Ay, but I mean, Mr. Alderman, it's not so _fresh_ as it might be."

"Why the head did whisper to me, ma'am, that he had not been at sea
these ten days; only I thought it rude to repeat what was told me
in confidence, and I'm not fond of _fresh things_ myself, am I, Mrs.
Marigold? Shall I help you to a little fowl, ma'am, a wing, or a merry
thought?"

"Egad! Mr. Alderman, you are always ready to assist the company with the
latter."

"Yes, ma'am, always happy to help the ladies to a __tit bit: shall I
send you the _recorder's nose_? Bless my heart, how warm it is! Here,
Joe, hang my wig behind me, and place that calf's-head before me." (See
Plate.)

"Very sorry, ma'am, very sorry indeed," said Mr. Deputy Flambeau to the
lady next him, whose silk dress he had just bespattered all over; "could
not have supposed this little pig had so much gravy in him," as Lady
Macbeth says.

"I wish you'd turn that ere nasty thing right round, Mr. Deputy,"
growled out a city ~97~~costermonger, "'cause my wife's quite alarmed
for her _grose_ de Naples."

"Not towards me, if you please, Mr. Deputy," simpered out Miss Marigold,
"because thereby hangs a tail, i.e. (tale)."

"That's my Biddy's ultimatum," said the alderman; "she never makes more
th