“‘Thank ye, my good friend; I am rather deaf, but I suppose you are inquiring after my wife and daughters: they are quite well, thank you.’
“‘Where will you sit at dinner?’ rejoins the acquaintance.
“‘It is two years since I was there,’ replies he.
“‘No: where will you sit, sir? I said.’
“‘Oh! John: he is still in Jamaica with his regiment.’...
“‘Come, waiter, d—n it all, why was not the dinner on the table when we arrived?’ demands a superfine inside passenger. ‘This is always the way with your confounded coach-dinners. And what have you got under there,—goose, eh?’
“‘No; pork, sir.’
“‘What is under that cover?’
“‘Pork too, sir.”
“‘Great heavens! pork again! the country is deluged with pork: who the devil do you think can dine off pork?’