But Rosa thought,from the supercilious air with which Mrs.Topham Sawyer was eying the plate and other arrangements,that she was remarking the difference of the ciphers on the forks and spoons--which had,in fact,been borrowed from every one of Fitzroy's friends--(I know,for instance,that he had my six,among others,and only returned five,along with a battered old black-pronged plated abomination,which I have no doubt belongs to Mrs.
Gashleigh,whom I hereby request to send back mine in exchange)--their guilty consciences,I say,made them fancy that every one was spying out their domestic deficiencies:whereas,it is probable that nobody present thought of their failings at all.People never do:they never see holes in their neighbors'coats--they are too indolent,simple,and charitable.
Some things,however,one could not help remarking:for instance,though Fitz is my closest friend,yet could I avoid seeing and being amused by his perplexity and his dismal efforts to be facetious?
His eye wandered all round the little room with quick uneasy glances,very different from those frank and jovial looks with which he is accustomed to welcome you to a leg of mutton;and Rosa,from the other end of the table,and over the flowers,entree dishes,and wine-coolers,telegraphed him with signals of corresponding alarm.
Poor devils!why did they ever go beyond that leg of mutton?
Funnyman was not brilliant in conversation,scarcely opening his mouth,except for the purposes of feasting.The fact is,our friend Tom Dawson was at table,who knew all his stories,and in his presence the greatest wag is always silent and uneasy.