Bottles and glasses usurped the place of dishes and plates.

Pipes were lighted; and Mr.
Kneebone began to dispense the fragrant fluid; begging Mrs.Wood, in a whisper, as he filled a rummer to the brim, not to forget the health of the Chevalier de Saint George--a proposition to which the lady immediately responded by drinking the toast aloud.
"The Chevalier shall hear of this," whispered the woollen-draper.
"You don't say so!" replied Mrs.Wood, delighted at the idea.
Mr.Kneebone assured her that he _did_ say so; and, as a further proof of his sincerity, squeezed her hand very warmly under the table.
Mr.Smith, now, being more than half-seas over, became very uproarious, and, claiming the attention of the table, volunteered the following DRINKING SONG.
I.
Jolly nose! the bright rubies that garnish thy tip Are dug from the mines of canary; And to keep up their lustre I moisten my lip With hogsheads of claret and sherry.
II.
Jolly nose! he who sees thee across a broad glass Beholds thee in all thy perfection; And to the pale snout of a temperate ass Entertains the profoundest objection.
III.
For a big-bellied glass is the palette I use, And the choicest of wine is my colour; And I find that my nose takes the mellowest hues The fuller I fill it--the fuller! IV.
Jolly nose! there are fools who say drink hurts the sight; Such dullards know nothing about it.
'T is better, with wine, to extinguish the light, Than live always, in darkness, without it! "How long may it be since that boy was found in the way Mrs.Wood mentions ?" inquired Jackson, as soon as the clatter that succeeded Mr.
Smith's melody had subsided.
"Let me see," replied Wood; "exactly twelve years ago last November." "Why, that must be about the time of the Great Storm," rejoined Jackson.
"Egad!" exclaimed Wood, "you've hit the right nail on the head, anyhow.
It _was_ on the night of the Great Storm that I found him." "I should like to hear all particulars of the affair," said Jackson, "if it wouldn't be troubling you too much." Mr.Wood required little pressing.

He took a sip of punch and commenced his relation.

Though meant to produce a totally different effect, the narrative seemed to excite the risible propensities rather than the commiseration of his auditor; and when Mr.Wood wound it up by a description of the drenching he had undergone at the Mint pump, the other could hold out no longer, but, leaning back in his chair, gave free scope to his merriment.
"I beg your pardon," he cried; "but really--ha! ha!--you must excuse me!--that is so uncommonly diverting--ha! ha! Do let me hear it again ?--ha! ha! ha!" "Upon my word," rejoined Wood, "you seem vastly entertained by my misfortunes." "To be sure! Nothing entertains me so much.

People always rejoice at the misfortunes of others--never at their own! The droll dogs! how _they_ must have enjoyed it!--ha! ha!" "I dare say they did.