Three places were reserved for the minister and his family up by the notabilities.

My father sat by Senor Martinez at the principal table, and I, in modesty, farther down at one of the side tables.
The dinner was of that good, old, genial sort which is now unfortunately going more and more out of fashion.

It is true, people ate with their knives and knew nothing about silver forks; but on the other hand there was real happiness in the gathering, and it formed the subject of many an entertaining conversation for long after.
At first, while we were still chilled by the cold feeling of the white cloth, and awed by the festal atmosphere, it was indeed very stiff.
Neighbours scarcely ventured to whisper to one another, and the young ladies in ball-dresses, who, as if by a magnetic cohesion, were all together, sat for a long time in a row in deep, embarrassed silence, like a hedge of blue, red, and white flowers, in which no bird dared sing.
The dinner began by the host bidding his guests welcome.

He next proposed in succession the healths of the notabilities present in rather long, prepared speeches, which were responded to by them.
After this everyone felt that they had passed over the official threshold to enjoyment.
The host, with lightened heart, now entered upon the much shorter and simpler toasts for the absent, among whom, first and foremost, was the "good minister and his family." Several besides myself noticed that my father left his glass untouched at this toast.
In the meantime the courses went round, and as the level of the wine in the bottles sank, the gaiety rose.

Many a quick, sharp brain that here found its own ground now came to the fore, and the falling hail of jests and witty and amusing sayings--the last generally in the form of stories with a point that was sometimes, perhaps, rather coarse--gave a lively impression of the peculiar Nordland humour.
It was only what, at that time, usually happened at parties, when the company leave the table, that there were a few who could not rise from their chairs, and others who, as a result of the attempt, were afterwards missing.