Over and above this, on a snow-white napkin, spread upon the sideboard, was a huge ham and a huge sirloin; the latter having laden the dinner table on the previous evening.

Such was the ordinary fare at Plumstead Episcopi.
And yet I have never found the rectory a pleasant house.

The fact that man shall not live by bread alone seemed to be somewhat forgotten; and noble as was the appearance of the host, and sweet and good-natured as was the face of the hostess, talented as were the children, and excellent as were the viands and the wines, in spite of these attractions, I generally found the rectory somewhat dull.
After breakfast the archdeacon would retire, of course to his clerical pursuits.

Mrs Grantly, I presume, inspected her kitchen, though she had a first-rate housekeeper, with sixty pounds a year; and attended to the lessons of Florinda and Grizzel, though she had an excellent governess with thirty pounds a year: but at any rate she disappeared: and I never could make companions of the boys.

Charles James, though he always looked as though there was something in him, never seemed to have much to say; and what he did say he would always unsay the next minute.