They were arranged around three sides of the barn and were loaded down with cold roasts of beef, cold chickens and cold ducks, mountains of sandwiches, pitchers of milk and lemonade, entire cheeses, bowls of olives, plates of oranges and nuts.

The advent of this supper was received with a volley of applause.

The musicians played a quick step.
The company threw themselves upon the food with a great scraping of chairs and a vast rustle of muslins, tarletans, and organdies; soon the clatter of dishes was a veritable uproar.

The tables were taken by assault.

One ate whatever was nearest at hand, some even beginning with oranges and nuts and ending with beef and chicken.