Scarcely one of the women but bore in her hand some uncooked meat.

Such meat! Lionel drew himself and his coat from too close proximity to it.

It was of varied hues, and walking away alive.

Upon plates, whole or broken, upon half-saucers, upon dust-pans, upon fire-shovels, held at the end of tongs, hooked on to a fork, spread out in a coal-box; anyhow so as to avoid contact with fingers, these dainty pieces were exhibited for inspection.
By what Lionel could gather, it appeared that this meat had been purchased on Saturday night at Peckaby's shop.

The women had said then, one and all, that it was not good; and Mr.Peckaby had been regaled with various open conjectures, more plain than polite, as to the state of the animal from which it had been supplied.