The things we do!

"That," said Honeyman with his soft-bleating sigh, "were scarcely
clerical. You know, besides, you are in a hermitage; and" (with a glance
round the table) "must put up with Cenobite's fare." The fare was, as I
have said, excellent. The wine was bad, as George, and I, and Sib agreed;
and in so far we flattered ourselves that our feast altogether excelled
the parson's. The champagne especially was such stuff, that Warrington
remarked on it to his neighbour, a dark gentleman, with a tuft to his
chin, and splendid rings and chains.
The dark gentleman's wife and daughter were the other two ladies invited
by our host. The elder was splendidly dressed. Poor Mrs. Mackenzie's
simple gimcracks, though she displayed them to the most advantage, and
could make an ormolu bracelet go as far as another woman's emerald
clasps, were as nothing compared to the other lady's gorgeous jewellery.
Her fingers glittered with rings innumerable. The head of her
smelling-bottle was as big as her husband's gold snuff box, and of the
same splendid material.


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