CHAPTER XXIII.
And Sheriff I will engage my word to you, That I will by to morrow dinner time, Send him to answer thee or any man, For anything he shall be charged withal Henry IV Part I When the several by-plays, as they may be termed, had taken place among the individuals of the Woodbourne family, as we have intimated in the preceding chapter, the breakfast party at length assembled, Dandie excepted, who had consulted his taste in viands, and perhaps in society, by partaking of a cup of tea with Mrs.Allan, just laced with two teaspoonfuls of cogniac, and reinforced with various slices from a huge round of beef.

He had a kind of feeling that he could eat twice as much, and speak twice as much, with this good dame and Barnes as with the grand folk in the parlour.

Indeed, the meal of this less distinguished party was much more mirthful than that in the higher circle, where there was an obvious air of constraint on the greater part of the assistants.

Julia dared not raise her voice in asking Bertram if he chose another cup of tea.

Bertram felt embarrassed while eating his toast and butter under the eye of Mannering.