By degrees, I became calm enough to release my grasp and partake of pudding. Mr. Pumblechook partook of pudding. All partook of pudding. The course terminated, and Mr. Pumblechook had begun to beam under the genial influence of gin and water. I began to think I should get over the day, when my sister said to Joe, "Clean plates,--cold."

     I clutched the leg of the table again immediately, and pressed it to my bosom as if it had been the companion of my youth and friend of my soul. I foresaw what was coming, and I felt that this time I really was gone.

     "You must taste," said my sister, addressing the guests with her best grace--"you must taste, to finish with, such a delightful and delicious present of Uncle Pumblechook's!"

     Must they! Let them not hope to taste it!

     "You must know," said my sister, rising, "it's a pie; a savory pork pie."

     The company murmured their compliments. Uncle Pumblechook, sensible of having deserved well of his fellow-creatures, said,--quite vivaciously, all things considered,--"Well, Mrs. Joe, we'll do our best endeavors; let us have a cut at this same pie."