'My mamma is never displeased because we amuse ourselves, and I am not a bit fatigued;' and so saying Katie walked off, and took refuge with her sister Gertrude. What business had any Ugolina Neverbend to interfere between her and her mamma?
Then came the supper. There was a great rush to get downstairs, but Charley was so clever that even this did not put him out. Of course there was no sitting down; which means that the bashful, retiring, and obedient guests were to stand on their legs; while those who were forward, and impudent, and disobedient, found seats for themselves wherever they could. Charley was certainly among the latter class, and he did not rest therefore till he had got Katie into an old arm-chair in one corner of the room, in such a position as to enable himself to eat his own supper leaning against the chimney-piece.
'I say, Johnson,' said he, 'do bring me some ham and chicken—it's for a lady—I'm wedged up here and can't get out—and, Johnson, some sherry.'
The good-natured young Weights obeyed, and brought the desired provisions.
'And Johnson—upon my word I'm sorry to be so troublesome—but one more plateful if you please—for another lady—a good deal, if you please, for this lady, for she's very hungry; and some more sherry.'
Johnson again obeyed—the Weights are always obedient—and Charley of course appropriated the second portion to his own purposes.
'Oh, Charley, that was a fib—now wasn't it? You shouldn't have said it was for a lady.'
'But then I shouldn't have got it.'
'Oh, but that's no reason; according to that everybody might tell a fib whenever they wanted anything.'
'Well, everybody does—everybody except you, Katie.'