The damaged plank was soon removed; and, being in a
fair way to surmount all my difficulties, about half--past five in the
evening I equipped myself in dry clothes, and proceeded on shore to call
on our friends at their new domicile. When I entered. I was shown into
the dining hall by my ally, Pegtop.
"Massa will be here presently, sir."
"Oh--tell him he need not hurry himself:--But how are Mr Bang and his
friends?"
"Oh, dem all wery so so, only Massa Wagtail hab take soch a terrible
cold, dat him tink he is going to dead; him wery sorry for himshef, for
true massa."
"But where are the gentlemen, Pegtop?"
"All, every one on dem, is in him bed. Wet clothes have been drying all
day."
"And when do they mean to dine?"
Here Pegtop doubled himself up, and laughed like to split himself.
"Dem is all dining in bed, Massa. Shall I show you to dem?"
"I shall be obliged; but don't let me intrude. Give my compliments, and
say I have looked in simply to enquire after their health."
Here Mr Wagtail shouted from the inner apartment.
"Hillo! Tom, my boy! Tom Cringle!--here, my lad, here!"
I was shown into the room from whence the voice proceeded, which
happened to be Massa Aaron's bedroom: and there were my three friends
stretched on sofas, in their night--clothes, with a blanket, sheet, and
counterpane over each, forming three sides of a square round a long
table, on which a most capital dinner was smoking, with wines of several
kinds, and a perfect galaxy of wax candles, and their sable valets, in
nice clean attire, and smart livery coats, waiting on them.
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