dress was something smarter.

The first-mentioned gentleman took notice that the room had been so
lately washed, as not to have had time to dry, and remarked that wet
lodging was unwholesome for man or beast. He looked round at the
same time for a poker to stir the fire with, which, he at last
observed to the company, the people of the house had removed in
order to save their coals. This difficulty, however, he overcame by
the help of Harley's stick, saying, "that as they should, no doubt,
pay for their fire in some shape or other, he saw no reason why they
should not have the use of it while they sat."

The door was now opened for the admission of dinner. "I don't know
how it is with you, gentlemen," said Harley's new acquaintance, "but
I am afraid I shall not be able to get down a morsel at this horrid
mechanical hour of dining." He sat down, however, and did not show
any want of appetite by his eating. He took upon him the carving of
the meat, and criticised on the goodness of the pudding.

When the table-cloth was removed, he proposed calling for some
punch, which was readily agreed to; he seemed at first inclined to
make it himself, but afterwards changed his mind, and left that
province to the waiter, telling him to have it pure West Indian, or
he could not taste a drop of it.

When the punch was brought he undertook to fill the glasses and call
the toasts. "The King."--The toast naturally produced politics. It
is the privilege of Englishmen to drink the king's health, and to
talk of his conduct. The man who sat opposite to Harley (and who by
this time, partly from himself, and partly from his acquaintance on