I go and shout in the
passage; but Mrs. Grumbit objects to being shouted for when there
are visitors on the premises. Great hand at etiquette, Mrs. Grumbit
is."
The lady in question arrived at this juncture, fortified by a new
and imposing cap, and laden with candles and a tea-tray, which she
deposited, with much clatter of teaspoons, on a table by Mrs.
Sylvester's side.
"Thank you, Mrs. Grumbit. And now will you come to a poor bachelor's
assistance, and pour out tea, Mrs. Sylvester? And I'm very sorry,
but I haven't got any sugar-tongs. I generally borrow Copal's, but
the beggar's gone out and locked his door. You ladies will have to
imagine you're at Oxford."
Mrs. Sylvester looked bewildered, and paused with one hand on the
Satsuma teapot.
"Don't you know, mamma, it isn't--form, don't you say? to have
sugar-tongs at Oxford? It was one of the things Charles always
objected to. I believe he tried to introduce them, but people always
threw them out of the window. _I_ think they're an absurd invention.
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