The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-26

Wnen mana anything 10 MISS Luton.
She is so bright looking, and it is such fun
to see the sparkle in her eyes and the way
they drop when they meet mine, and little
repressed smile stealing over her lips that
it taxes my powers 10 the utmost to keep
from laughing. | feel that should like
to kick the young fellow sitting by her side
lie does not seem to have very much to say
for himself. and he examines every dish as
it is handed to him, through an eye glass.
His inspection is so long and his nose Is sc
close that l have growing inclination to
bob the dish up in his face. For more than
half the dinner he is silent, then he talks a
little politics, staunch conservatism, and
Miss Linton Immediately enunciates the
strongest radical principles upholds wo-
mans suffrage, and their having seats in
Parliament. This seems to overwhelnl
him, and he retires from the contest with
sigh.
Later on, he tries again, when the mince
pies are being handed round.
"Will you have happy month"; he
asks, with faint smile, which disturbs his
eye-glass and brings it down into his lap.
He readjusts it slowly, and, not trusting
himself to repeat the joke, asks her to
have some mince pie.
"No, thank you; l never eat them,' she
replies.
"Have you never tasted them ?' he says,
frowning as if he were 4 barrister cross
examining Witness but probably because
his glass gives premonitory slip.
go yes have tasted them, but don't
care about them," she answers.
He has no comment to make upon, her
reply, and he helps himself i'll silence.
Sir o'clock. Crumms and solemnly put
on the wine and the glasses, push the des-
sert-dishes little one way or the other,
and leave the room.
"Bravo ~ whispers Crumms, when we
are in the hall. "Bravo. sir With a
little teaching you'd make a capital waiter.
And Miss Linton installing you for a
gentleman, too. What joke At least, "
he adds, as if he suddenly feels that he has
made rather a mistake himself, "of course
that is what you are, and a gent is always
gent, say. But you understand, sir. 1t
was so ludicrous."
"Perfectly. l understand, Crumms.-
What are you going to do now?'
"Well, SIR" he says, coming a little
nearer IS generally have something in the
housekeeper's room. Maybe you wouldn't
like that, though we should be quite alone"
AS want something to eat, and am not
paw "hClC SSO ~, iolip" VI
down stairs into the kitchen. The servants
there are busy washing up the plates and
dishes, amid general smell Of dinner and
hot water, which is far from pleasant.
The housekeeper takes us at once into her
room, where there is a cloth spread upon
the table, and row of the good things
from upstairs on a kind of dresser.
"You are sure you don't mind, sir, !" says
Crumms to me, when we were alone, "be-
cause I'll wait till you are done, if you like.
am not hungry"
But l am, and l shall not begin till you
do" answer; and we sit down together.
The soup is cold and fast becoming jelly;
the fish looks mangled and unsavory; so
decline soup and fish. | find that the hav-
ing little something in the kitchen after
dinner is over upstairs requires training
before it becomes really enjoyable. Crumms
evidently has had the full amount of train
ing that is necessary. For man who pro-
fesses not to be hungry, and who has had
good dinner few hours before, he dis
plays a capabiity for eating that is truly
wonderful. | prefer the dishes that have
not been touched upstairs; he, on the con-
trary, is on equally good terms with them
all. However, get quite enough to satisfy
me, and there is a novelty in eating one S
Christmas dinner with a waiter in back
kitchen. The wine certainly is the best
part. Crumms has taken care there shall
be plenty of that, and makes most liberal
host with Mr.. Domvilles port and sherry.
Seren o'clock. Crumms says he must
take the coffee up to the gentlemen, and
leaves the room. No sooner is he gone
than one of the servants comes in, appar-
emily in search of something. Whatever
it is, she does not find it. She hunts about
vaguely for a minute, and then stops oppo-
site to me.
$50 Miss Linton took you for gentle
man." she says with laugh. Glow nice. "
"Miss Linton made an unfortunate mis-
take, " answer gravely, initiating Crumms
manner.
"Well, don't know about that" she
replies. "There is certainly an excuse for
her doing So"
This strikes me as being very open fiat
terry; but under the circumstances it loses
its point; moreover the speaker is rather
warm from standing over her tub of hot
water, and very plain into the bargain.
AS don't answer, she tries another subject.
"You are out of a situation at present,
amt you?"
| nod.
" w here were you: she asks.
"In the country"
"Notts?'' she says, knowing Crumms
came from that part. "And so now you We
come to London"
At this moment Crumms shuts the din
ing room; and the girl, without looking
farther for whatever it was she pretended
to come in to fetch, Immediately makes a
rapid retreat.
CT o'' RI INC
Jerking with his thumb in the direction of
the kitchen.
"Trying," answer.
"Iknew they would, he replies. "They
are awful curious about you, them women.
l wouldn't stop here too long now. There
amt anything more for you to do, and |
can say you've got an appointment to keep,
you know
Acting upon his advice, we go upstairs
to the hall, and Crumms lets me out, shut
ting the door very quietly behind me.
1t is fine, clear night, and l turn my
face homewards, and stroll slowly along
the deserted square, l go all up the long,
straight Cover street without meeting any
one. By the university | see a figure adj
vancing quickly. We pass under gas
lamp, and both pull up.
"Herbert, by Jove''
"Why, Roche, what are you doing here
Going out to dinner?
"Just had it, he replies. "Been to see
an old lady home"
He then naturally wonders what | am
doing, strolling along the streets on Christ
mas night. l tell him | have been out to
dinner.
"They have broken up very early" he
saws: and then asks suddenly: " y on
haven't sneaked off to read, surely?"
This is said in a tone as if it were a
mortal sin for man to read for an exami
nation on Christmas days.
"That's right he says, when l had
disclaimed any idea of reading. :" Viii
you come home with me. My people will
be very glad to see you. We always have
carpet dance or something in the even
ing
l accept readily, and go back with Roche
to his house.
Nine o clock. We have cleared the room
for dancing, and the first quadrille has just
commenced. Not being able to get part
ner, am standing on the landing, when {
carriage rolls up to the street door, ano
there is loud knock announcing the arriva
of some new corners.
Mrs Roche hurries down and meets then
in the hall. l hear her say as she come!
upstairs, " You are just too late for the
first dance Helen''