"Well, Trevelyan," soliloquized he; "you are a strange old fellow; such a state as this must not be indulged amidst the stir and hurly-burly of to-night.

I believe bedlam has broken loose." No wonder that Trevelyan thought so; for, at that moment, several noisy songs broke upon him--the barking of at least a score of dogs, the clatter of steps upon the pavement, and the practising of fifes and drums.

Such a babel--a distraction of noises and shouts of hilarious impatience were amusing in the extreme.

At the appointed hour, the usual ceremonies of introduction being passed, the company were at last seated.

And such a table! Such an array that one would only get into difficulty by attempting to describe it.