“I’ll have beef, Aunt!” put in unseasonable Jack.
“Wilt thou have manners?” severely returned Rachel.
“Where shall I find them, Aunt?” coolly inquired Jack, letting his eyes rove about among the dishes. “May I help you likewise?”
“Behave thyself, Jack!” said his father, laughing.
The rebuke was neutralised by the laughter. Rachel went on carving in dignified silence.
“Would you think it?” resumed Sir Thomas, when everybody was helped, and conversation free to flow. “Master Tremayne doth conceive that we Christian folk be meant to learn somewhat from those ancient Jews that did wander about with Moses in the wilderness. Ne’er heard I no such a fantasy. To conceive that we can win knowledge from the rotten old observances of those Jew rascals! Verily, this passeth!”
“Beats the Dutch, Sir!” said incorrigible Jack.
Note 1. All members of the Enville family and household are fictitious persons.