Punch: Punch (75.1878)

254

PUNCH, OK THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[December 7, 1878.

AN APPEAL TO THE LAW.

Naughty Critic, to use bad Language! Silly Painter, to go io Law about it!

FRIENDS AT A DISTANCE.

Being the brief Record of a feiv Winter-seasonable Visits to certain

Country Houses.

Visit the First— Chapter IV.
The Uprise—A Party—Recognition—Description — Catalogue—
Oldest of Old Counties—The Beauty—Introduction—Mauvais
quart d heure—Etiquette—More Solemnity—Dinner in State.
I had expected Josslyn Dyke to be alone, and, to my utter
astonishment, find myself suddenly thrust in, as it were, on a com-
paratively large party, that, apparently, hadn't in the least expected
me to be added to their number.

The rapidity with which I have been let in, and the door closed
Phantom Butler * SOmetHng like a Practical joke on the part of the

Nobody takes the slightest notice of me, except two or three Ladies,
who look round as much as to say, "What's this ? » and after an in-

spection so brief as scarcely to interrupt their conversation for a
second, they seem to say, " Oh, is that all—well, as we were saying,"
and they resume their talk. Awkward.

My host is engaged with a tall, elderly, crusty-looking Gentleman
by the fire-place. The Crusty Gentleman has taken up the usual
peculiarly Englishman's attitude in front of the fire, so as to render
himself more crusty than ever. He is doing himself to a turn—
[Happy Thought.—Doing himself a good turn. Charity begins at
home, i.e. at your own fireside]—sometimes with great impartiality
presenting a side view to the fire, and sometimes turning right
round while conversing with Josslyn Dyke, so that, in time, the
Crusty Old Gentleman will be thoroughly done through. Whatever
the engrossing subject may be, Josslyn is saying, "it is" and the
Crusty one is " begging his pardon, and assuring bim that it isn't."

I only see one face I know. It belongs to a man whom I meet,
occasionally, once in two years, but as Josslyn is evidently not going
to introduce me to anybody, and as, without this ceremony, I can't
address anyone, even about the weather, without being considered