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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY 31
pink of the fashion, and longing to have the honour of dancing a
quadrille with them there. Indeed, Brandon was so very sarcastic,
that not a single soul at table understood him.
The table, from Mr. Brandon's plan of it, which was afterwards
sent to my Lord Cinqbars, was arranged as follows :—
Miss Caroline. Mr. Fitch. Miss L. Macarty.
1.
A roast leg of
pork, with sago
and onions.
2.
Potatoes.
Three shreds
of celery in a
glass.
Cabbage.
3.
Boiled haddock,
removed by hashed
mutton.
Mr. Swigby. Miss B. Macarty. Mr. Brandon.
1 and 2 are pots of porter; 3, a quart of ale, Mrs. Gann's
favourite drink ; 4, a bottle of fine old golden sherry, the real produce
of the Uva grape, purchased at the " Bag of Nails " Hotel for
1s. 9d. by Mr. J. Gann.
Mr. Gann, "Taste that sherry, sir. Your 'ealth, and my
services to you, sir. That wine, sir, is given me as a particular
favour by my—ahem !—my wine-merchant, who only will part with
a small quantity of it, and imports it direct, sir, from—ahem!—
from _______ "
Mr. Brandon, " From Xeres, of course. It is, I really think,
the finest wine I ever tasted in my life—at a commoner's table,
that is."
Mrs. Gann'. " Oh, in course, a commoner's table !—we have no
titles, sir (Mr. Gann, I will trouble you for some more crackling),
though my poor dear girls are related, by their blessed father's side,
to some of the first nobility in the land, I assure you."
Mr, Gann. "Gammon, Jooly my dear. Them Irish nobility,
you know, what are they ? And, besides, it's my belief that the
gals are no more related to them than I am."
Miss Bella (to Mr. Brandon, confidentially), "You must find
that poor Par is sadly vulgar, Mr. Brandon."
Mrs. Gann, " Mr. Brandon has never been accustomed to such
language, I am sure; and I entreat you will excuse Mr. Gann's
rudeness, sir."
4.