Then, recollecting all of a sudden that he was setting a very bad example of politeness, he put on a remarkably sweet expression, and added in the mildest tone—
“Excuse me; I forgot myself. I believe—well—yes, upon the whole, as this party is given in your honor, you may do as you please to-day.”
“Bow, wow, wow!” barked Beppo, in a perfect ecstasy of delight, and leaping with all four feet in the air. “Bow, w-o-w-w! Oh, my goodness!” he continued, suddenly stopping; “I forgot myself, or rather you, sir. Please to forgive me; I could not keep the bark in; and it is utterly impossible to stop wagging my tail, I am so happy.”
“Ah! how short is life!” sighed Lord Chesterfield; “I am afraid I shall die before my dogs, cats, and monkeys come to perfection!”
But you ought to have seen how elegantly they arranged themselves at the table, bowing and smiling the whole blessed time. It was something worth looking at, I can tell you—all sitting up as fine as you please, five on each side. The waiters, who were rigged out in regimentals, tied white napkins around their necks, at which, I must confess, there was some snarling and a bark or so, and one or two tried to wriggle out of them; but at a grave, severe look from my Lord Chesterfield, they gave up with a low whine, which was much better than could have been expected.
Beppo had a fine piece of beef to carve, and his master a pair of roasted chickens; but all the rest of the dishes were pies of different kinds of birds—pigeon-pie, snipe-pie, woodcock-pie, poll-parrot-pie, owl-pie, cat-bird-pie, and booby-pie, for a booby is a bird as well as a dunce.
Oh, my goodness! how they did want to dive into these delicious pies with their paws. If they had dared, they would have behaved exactly as most people do on board of steamboats, where they pounce on all the dishes they can reach at once, and empty them pell-mell on their plates. I have seen oysters, pie, roast beef, salt fish, and ice cream, all mixed up on the same plate—a perfectly horrible mess; and that was because these greedy people had not the first idea of politeness or courtesy one to another, and the want of it made them behave like pigs.
“Shall I help you to a slice of the chicken, madam?” said Lord Chesterfield to Lucy.
“If you please,” said Lucy, with a pretty little bow and smile.