On the point of thanking him, Evan advanced a step, when up started the irascible chairman.

‘I don’t permit it!  I won’t allow it!’ And before Evan could ask his reasons, he had rung the bell, muttering:  ’They follow us to our inns, now, the baggages!  They must harry us at our inns!  We can’t have peace and quiet at our inns!—­’

In a state of combustion, he cried out to the waiter: 

’Here, Mark, this gentleman has brought in a dirty wench:  pack her up to my bed-room, and lock her in lock her in, and bring down the key.’

Agreeably deceived in the old gentleman’s intentions, Evan could not refrain from joining the murmured hilarity created by the conclusion of his order.  The latter glared at him, and added:  ’Now, sir, you’ve done your worst.  Sit down, and be merry.’

Replying that he had a friend outside, and would not fail to accept the invitation, Evan retired.  He was met by the hostess with the reproachful declaration on her lips, that she was a widow woman, wise in appearances, and that he had brought into her house that night work she did not expect, or bargain for.  Rather (since I must speak truth of my gentleman) to silence her on the subject, and save his ears, than to propitiate her favour towards the girl, Evan drew out his constitutionally lean purse, and dropped it in her hand, praying her to put every expense incurred to his charge.  She exclaimed: 

‘If Dr. Pillie has his full sleep this night, I shall be astonished’; and Evan hastily led Jack into the passage to impart to him, that the extent of his resources was reduced to the smallest of sums in shillings.

‘I can beat my friend at that reckoning,’ said Mr. Raikes; and they entered the room.

Eyes were on him.  This had ever the effect of causing him to swell to monstrous proportions in the histrionic line.  Asking the waiter carelessly for some light supper dish, he suggested the various French, with ‘not that?’ and the affable naming of another.  ’Nor that?  Dear me, we shall have to sup on chops, I believe!’

Evan saw the chairman scrutinizing Raikes, much as he himself might have done, and he said:  ‘Bread and cheese for me.’

Raikes exclaimed:  ’Really?  Well, my lord, you lead, and your taste is mine!’

A second waiter scudded past, and stopped before the chairman to say:  ’If you please, sir, the gentlemen upstairs send their compliments, and will be happy to accept.’

‘Ha!’ was the answer.  ’Thought better of it, have they!  Lay for three more, then.  Five more, I guess.’  He glanced at the pair of intruders.

Among a portion of the guests there had been a return to common talk, and one had observed that he could not get that ‘Good Evening,’ and ’Good Night,’ out of his head which had caused a friend to explain the meaning of these terms of salutation to him:  while another, of a philosophic turn, pursued the theme:  ’You see, when we meets, we makes a night of it.  So, when we parts, it’s Good Night—­natural! ain’t it?’ A proposition assented to, and considerably dilated on; but whether he was laughing at that, or what had aroused the fit, the chairman did not say.