—"Well, did you find the pig's ears with beans to your liking, sir?" inquired the cook of me at that moment, as she came in to change the dishes.
"On my word of honour as a poet, I have never tasted such pig's ears and beans," I replied.
An apricot pasty followed, of which—I confess it freely—I am also fond.
Bessy then continued her story:—
"I went to my lawyer, put my case before him, and asked him what he advised me to do in my situation. I applied to him first (a dry, prosaic man, with his mental vision bounded by the law); after that, I wanted to lay the matter before you, that you might judge between us."
"Between whom?"
"Between me and my lawyer, for we are of diametrically opposite views as to what I ought to do next."
"Then you have a view on the subject, too?"
"Of course I have; but listen first to the view of the man learned in the law, and before you do that, let us drink to the health of those we love, and those who love us."
We drank the toast accordingly, but we mentioned no names.