ed to the kitchen, to communicate the
intelligence to his aunt. How _he_ enjoyed that party! how he skimmed his
fingers round the plates, as he took them through the entry; sucking the
ends of them so loudly, that his aunt thought that corks were flying out
of the porter-bottles! He was perfectly happy. One thing alone puzzled
him; that was the knotty question why people couldn't eat every thing off
the same plate.

It was remarked, that when the dinner was over, some of the guests were
uncommonly mellow; and it is credibly asserted, that Dick Holmes, who had
spent his life among parchment and cobwebs, had during the meal buried his
mouth in the bosom of his own waistcoat, and had there been heard
confidentially singing to himself a short song of an Anacreontic
character. But be that as it may, when he rose from the table, his eye
certainly was a little lively, and his spirits were high. Nor was there
any flagging among the rest; for whether the jests were good or bad, or
the songs poor, or the conversation common-place, certain it is, that a
more jovial set had never met. Every one seemed to have been placed beside
the person who suited him; Harry sat with Jacob on one side of him, and
the widow at the head of the table, with the Doctor at her right hand; and
Dick Holmes and Grosket together; and Ned and Kate, so close that their
elbows touched; and Annie beside her brother; and her brother, although
somewhat incommoded by his sister, directly opposite the fattest part of
the saddle of mutton! And then the one or two neighbors, who knew no one
except each other, seated in a knot, contrived to grow moist and merry,
because the others did, and laughed because Harry did. Choice spirits! who
could split their very sides, without a joke to abet them in it; weren't
they the fellows to help out a dinner party?

When they separated, it was late at night. The doctor gallantly
volunteered to escort the widow to her abode, which offer was accepted
without hesitation. Harry remarked that as it was a fine night, he thought
he would walk too.

'Come, Jacob, you and I will go together,' said he, taking the old man by
the arm; 'and Ned, you look after Kate. No grumbling, but make yourself
useful.' Saying this, he trudged rapidly on, dragging the old man with
him.

What passed between him and Jacob, or what took place between Ned and
Kate, I cannot say; but they certainly were the two tardiest people that
ever walked; for long afte