Sketches by Boz - Penn State University

Charles Dickensing the way to the house.and et ceteras, were displayed at the top, and a fillet of‘What the deuce did you stick Fanny into that last veal at the bottom. On one side of the table two greencompliment for?’ inquired Parsons, as they followed together;‘it quite spoilt the effect.’each other in a green dish; and on the other was a cur-sauce-tureens, with ladles of the same, were setting to‘Oh! it really would have been too broad without,’ repliedWatkins Tottle, ‘much too broad!’‘Miss Lillerton, my dear,’ said Mrs. Parsons, ‘shall I asriedrabbit, in a brown suit, turned up with lemon.‘He’s mad!’ Parsons whispered his wife, as they enteredthe drawing-room, ‘mad from modesty.’‘Thank you, no; I think I’ll trouble Mr. Tottle.’sist you?’‘Dear me!’ ejaculated the lady, ‘I never heard of such a Watkins started—trembled—helped the rabbit—andthing.’broke a tumbler. The countenance of the lady of the‘You’ll find we have quite a family dinner, Mr. Tottle,’ house, which had been all smiles previously, underwentsaid Mrs. Parsons, when they sat down to table: ‘Miss an awful change.Lillerton is one of us, and, of course, we make no stranger ‘Extremely sorry,’ stammered Watkins, assisting himselfto currie and parsley and butter, in the extremity ofof you.’Mr. Watkins Tottle expressed a hope that the Parsons his confusion.family never would make a stranger of him; and wished ‘Not the least consequence,’ replied Mrs. Parsons, in ainternally that his bashfulness would allow him to feel tone which implied that it was of the greatest consequencepossible,—directing aside the researches of thea little less like a stranger himself.‘Take off the covers, Martha,’ said Mrs. Parsons, directingthe shifting of the scenery with great anxiety. The broken glass.boy, who was groping under the table for the bits oforder was obeyed, and a pair of boiled fowls, with tongue ‘I presume,’ said Miss Lillerton, ‘that Mr. Tottle is aware461