"What was it, my dear?" enquired his wife; "indeed, John, those wicked words are very sinful."
"Ha, ha, Miss Vernon, you are a mischievous little witch! Ah, Sue, you've an old reprobate of a husband."
"Let us fill a bumper to the memory of those glorious old Normans, who left us so charming a banqueting hall," said I.
"You do not express yourself properly; let us 'drain a cup' is more appropriate," interrupted Miss Vernon.
"A set of unmitigated robbers without a spark of humanity," said the Artist.
"You must admit they were often splendidly generous," interposed Miss Vernon.
"Ay, by fits and starts."
"As much as could be expected from ignorant uncivilised warriors," said I; "they were rude and cruel enough, so were all nations at the time; while few possessed their generosity, energy, and abstemiousness; they were a race of gentlemen!"
"Yes, abstemiousness has always continued to be a characteristic of their gentlemanlike descendants," sneered Winter.