DENOUNCED
XI.
"There's a new foot on the floor, my friend;
And a new face at the door, my friend;
A new face at the door."
Leander sat at the head of the table as carver, having Mrs. Collum and Bella on his left, and James and Matilda opposite to them.
James was the first to open conversation, by the remark to Mrs. Collum, across the table, that they were "having another dull Sunday."
"That," rejoined the uncompromising lady, "seems to me a highly improper remark, sir."
"My friend Jauncy," explained Leander, in defence of his abashed companion, "was not alluding to present company, I'm sure. He meant the dulness outside—the fog, and so on."
"I knew it," she said; "and I repeat that it is improper and irreverent to speak of a dull Sunday in that tone of complaint. Haven't we all the week to be lively in?"
"And I'm sure, ma'am," said Jauncy, recovering himself, "you make the most of your time. Talking of fog, Tweddle, did you see those lines on it in to-day's Umpire? Very smart, I call them; regular witty."
"And do you both read a paper on Sunday mornings with 'smart' and 'witty' lines in it?" demanded Mrs. Collum.