Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-07-22
CHAPTER III.
A FAMILY DINNER PARTY.


The floor was of oak. uneven through
age. and perilously slippery. and the
walls of Dutch oak panelling. relieved .
here and there by portraits in oils OF .
horses and dogs. -Four windows did .
not admit sufficient light for the room. f
and on the spacious hearth no tire 4
could bee made large enough for COM .
fort In winter. The centre was oc-
cupied by an enormous table support
ed by legs about ten inches shorter
than those with which modern din
ing table is furnished. and round IL
were ranged tairty-two chairs. fifteen.
at either side and one nj each end
cumbrous structures OF oak and en-
bossed leather. mounted on wheels
Indeed. I never look ne this table with
out recalling the ludicrous aspect pre-
scented by our friend Major Armstrong.
OF the Suffolk Neomanry. when dining
with us. Major Armstrong stands SIX
feet four. and the distance from his
plate TO his mouth IS SO great that
when be is engaged with the former
1t appears almost as if he were dig
ging the ground with his fork. A large
sideboard. loaded with silver. COM
plctcd the furniture OF the room
when I entered. it was at once ap-
parent that this was a special occa-
sion The table was lighted by more
candles. and spread somewhat more
luxuri0usly than usual. and. infallble
sign. old John. our one indoor manser-
want. had on his yellow silk waistcoat
IA venerable and conspicuous article
o. his attire which 1 remembered from
my earliest infancy. but bad never be-
fore known him TO wear except on
Sundays-and was moving about bust
~ between the sidcb0ard and the IL
bic.
disturbed my relations IN an exam
ination they were making of me
quantity carved mantelpicce. Ny faith
81 at once stepped towards me. and
taking my hand i'm his own. led me
towards u beautiful aud very clabor-
ately dressed lady. saying.
Permit me 10 Introduce my son.
Ernest this lady is your aunt Ger
trudo.'
Now though in the hrst blush or MY
youth / had suffered from oyermuch
self-oonscioCsu 1 hal lattcrcd my
SELF OF late that had reasoned myself
out of that maiady. and was as SELF
possessed as a young man OF nineteen
need rc. Vain Gclus.on, Whether ID
was thc striking beauty OF my aunt
the suleudor OF her dress and jewels
or my intense surprise at finding hcl
woman OF at most thirty. whom
had mentally pictured as about LitccI
years older than that. know not, bu
certain il is. / had never felt SO awis
ward and foolish before. i cannO
quite remember what l said. bur
believe q few disconnected words IS
capped my lips 10 the effect that 1 wa
very pleased 10 make her acQuain.
ancc.
Ny aunt noticed my confusion. an
with admirable tact endeavored L
allay il. II am sure l am much graf
fed 20 see you and your father" sh
said in soft voice. My husband IA
often talked 10 me of you both. and Q
his old home in England. Your hous
is perfectly delightful. and 1 long {
see more of II. You must show III
all over it when You have time"
Replying that nothing could give n
greater pleasure. and that l would d
so tomorrow if she was sufficient
rested TO undertake the task. I shoe
hands with my uncle and felt rath,
more at my ease.
My father having taken his seat
the head of the table with his sist
and 1 on the right. and his brother
his left. John removed the covers. ~
dinner was served.
NO" said uncle San, aClressil
ny father. the, change is not all
myself rs you suggest. though
course q mans ideas modify and c
pand a good deal in twenty year
especially If his Affairs arc extensi
and he mixes much with busine
men. Positively. 1 believe what la
told you. that Englishmen arc vast
altered froL what they were when
lived among tLem. They are rot
entcrprising; they seem 10 lack 60 4
grit, and have fallen into a slow W.
Everything il England is Cepres-e,
capitalists AFRAID TO invest. labor,
without work 70 CO. Coming fr,
London to-day. we cav : man and
boy with two horses blowing a Ge
Why. the scene would serve for
illustration 70 one Of Pope'c pastors
No wonder that farming in Engla
don't pay when you tickle and scra'
the earth ii such primitive IashI
time in this wy. your legislators
talking about small farms and al
menIs for laborers. Bosh. my d
sir. boshl What is wanted Sc for
least a hundred landowners ii e: