Why, how glum you look! Has the Lantern been lecturing you?
or have you been having a dose of cold eel-pie on the road?
or what?
Come on.

You know all these fellows.

By the way, my boy, glorious news for you! Don't know what we've all done to deserve it, upon my honour, but Abel here has knocked out one of his front teeth, so there'll be no more trouble about spotting him now." Abel grinned and exhibited the gap in his jaw which had called forth this song of thankfulness from our host.
"How ever did you do it ?" I asked, glad to turn the conversation from myself.
"Ran against a lamp-post," replied the mutilated Twin.
This simple explanation caused much merriment, for every one chose to believe that Abel had been intoxicated at the time, and as Abel himself joined in the laugh, it was easy to see that if that had been the cause of the accident, neither he nor any one else would be greatly ashamed of it.
"What would Jack think ?" I could not help saying to myself.
Hawkesbury walked over to where I was and shook hands.

"I'm glad you've come," said he, sweetly smiling; "I was afraid you would be prevented." "No, I'd nothing to prevent me," replied I, colouring up.
"I fancied you would prefer staying with your friend Smith, or that he might not like you to come." "Smith is working late at the office to-night," I replied, shortly.
"Now you fellows!" cried Doubleday, "if you want any grub, sit down.
Batch, old man, will you take that end of the table?
you're used to lobsters, I know." Once more I blushed to the roots of my hair, as I obeyed in as unconcerned a manner as I could.
"What's the joke about the lobster ?" asked Hawkesbury, innocently.
I wished the ground would open and swallow me.

Was that unlucky lobster, then, to haunt me all the days of my life?
"There was no joke about it, I can tell you that!" said Whipcord, with a significant grimace; "was there, Daly ?" "Well, I don't know," said Daly, looking mysterious; "there was one rather good joke about it, if what I was told is true." "What's that ?" demanded the company.
"It was paid for!" Don't you pity me, reader?
I was obliged to join in the laugh, and appear to enjoy it.
"They're rather down on you," said Hawkesbury, amiably.
"Oh, they like their little joke," said I.
"So they do--who's got the butter ?" said Doubleday--"so does everybody-- hang it, the milk's burnt; don't you taste it burnt, Field-Marshal?
I'll give my old woman notice--so does everybody, except--the muffins, please, Crow--except your precious friend Smith.