All the furniture of the table was of the commonest and cheapest sort.

There was a single large thick slice of bread by each boarder's plate, and it was observable that he economized it as if he were not expecting it to be duplicated.

Dishes of butter were distributed along the table within reach of people's arms, if they had long ones, but there were no private butter plates.

The butter was perhaps good enough, and was quiet and well behaved; but it had more bouquet than was necessary, though nobody commented upon that fact or seemed in any way disturbed by it.

The main feature of the feast was a piping hot Irish stew made of the potatoes and meat left over from a procession of previous meals.