Page 32 (1/2)

"Thank you, ain, and the time came to produce the second

course of cheese and celery, the landlady allowed the waiter to take

her place Her experience of the farmers who frequented the inn, and

who had in some few cases been induced to taste the wine, warned her to

anticipate an outbreak of just anger from Mr Mountjoy He, like the

others, would probably ask what she " him with such

stuff as that" On the return of the waiter, she put the question: "Did

the gentleman complain of the French wine?"

"He wants to see you about it, ma'am"

The landlady turned pale The expression of Mr Mountjoy's indignation

was evidently reserved for the mistress of the house "Did he swear,"

she asked, "when he tasted it?"

"Lord bless you, ma'am, no! Drank it out of a tumbler, and--if you will

believe me--actually seemed to like it"

The landlady recovered her colour Gratitude to Providence for having

sent a customer to the inn, who could drink sour ithout

discovering it, was the upper in her ample bosom as she

entered the private room Mr Mountjoy justified her anticipations He