As Mr.Clay once remarked, the mellowing years, sir, have refined it." "Dinner is ready," said John.
There was no necessity to entertain Mr.Grey.He talked at length, what James Penhallow later described as "grown-up prattle." Horses, the crops, and at length the proper methods of fining wine--a word of encouragement from Rivers set him off again.

Meanwhile the dinner grew cold on his plate.

At last, abruptly conscious of the lingering meal, Mr.Grey said, "This comes, sir, of being in too interesting society." Was this mere quaint humour, thought Rivers; but when Grey added, "I should have said, sir, too interested company," he began to wonder at the self-absorption of what was evidently a provincial gentleman.

At last, with "Your very good health!" he took freely of the captain's Madeira.
Rivers, who sipped a single glass slowly, was about to rise when to his amusement, using his uncle's phrase, John said, "My uncle thinks that Madeira and tobacco do not go well together; you may like to smoke in the library." Grey remarked, "Quite right, as Henry Clay once said, 'There is nothing as melancholy as the old age of a dinner; who, sir, shall pronounce its epitaph ?' That, sir, I call eloquence.

No more wine, thank you." As he spoke, he drew a large Cabana from his waistcoat pocket and lighted it from one of the candles on the table.
Rivers remarked, "We will find it warmer in the library." When the two men settled down to pipe or cigar at the library fire, John, who had felt the role of host rather difficult, was eager to get a look at the _Tribune_ which lay invitingly on the table, and presently caught the eye of Mr.Grey.
"I see you have the _Tribune_" he said.