"Ah, Tom," quoth Massa Paul, "delighted to see you,--come, you seem to
have dry clothes on, so take the head of the table."
I did so; and broke ground forthwith with great zeal.
"Tom, a glass of wine, my dear," said Aaron. "Don't you admire us
classical, after the manner of the ancients, eh? Wagtail's head--dress,
and Paul's night--cap--oh, the comforts of a woollen one! Ah, Tom, Tom,
the Greeks had no Kilmamock--none."
We all carried on cheerily, and Bang began to sparkle.
"Well, now since you have weighed the schooner and found not much
wanting I feel my spirits rising again.--A glass of champagne, Tom,
your health, boy.--The dip the old hooker has got must have surprises
the rats and cockroaches. Do you know, Tom, I really have an idea of
writing a history of the cruise; only I am deterred from the melancholy
consciousness that every blockhead nowadays fancies he can write."
"Why, my dear sir, are you not coquetting for a compliment? Don't we
all know, that many of the crack articles in Ebony's Mag" "Bah,"
clapping his hand on my mouth; "hold your tongue; all wrong in that"
"Well, if it be not you then, I scarcely know to whom to attribute them.
Until lately, I only knew you as the warm hearted West Indian
gentleman; but now I am certain I am to"
"Tom, hold your tongue, my beautiful little man. For, although I must
plead guilty to having mixed a little in literary society in my younger
days--Alas! my heart, those days are gane.
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