第25章

Theywereallverygay，laughingovertheirmistakes，gettinginoneanother’sway，rushingintothesitting-room，theirhandsfullofplatesorknivesorglasses，anddartingoutagainaftermore。MarcusandMr。Sieppetooktheircoatsoff。OldGrannisandMissBakerpassedeachotherinthehallinaconstrainedsilence，hergrenadinebrushingagainsttheelbowofhiswrinkledfrockcoat。UncleOelbermannsuperintendedHeiseopeningthecaseofchampagnewiththegravityofamagistrate。Owgoostewasassignedthetaskoffillingthenewsaltandpeppercanistersofredandblueglass。

Inawonderfullyshorttimeeverythingwasready。MarcusSchoulerresumedhiscoat，wipinghisforehead，andremarking：

“Itellyou，I’vebeendoingCHORESforMYboard。“

“Todertable！“commandedMr。Sieppe。

Thecompanysatdownwithagreatclatter，Trinaatthefoot，thedentistatthehead，theothersarrangedthemselvesinhaphazardfashion。ButithappenedthatMarcusSchoulercrowdedintotheseatbesideSelina，towardswhichOldGranniswasdirectinghimself。Therewasbutoneotherchairvacant，andthatatthesideofMissBaker。OldGrannishesitated，puttinghishandtohischin。However，therewasnoescape。Ingreattrepidationhesatdownbesidetheretireddressmaker。Neitherofthemspoke。OldGrannisdarednotmove，butsatrigid，hiseyesrivetedonhisemptysoupplate。

Allatoncetherewasareportlikeapistol。Themenstartedintheirplaces。Mrs。Sieppeutteredamuffledshriek。Thewaiterfromthecheaprestaurant，hiredasMaria’sassistant，rosefromabendingposture，achampagnebottlefrothinginhishand；hewasgrinningfromeartoear。

“Don’tgetscairt，“hesaid，reassuringly，“itain’tloaded。“

Whenalltheirglasseshadbeenfilled，Marcusproposedthehealthofthebride，“standingup。“Theguestsroseanddrank。Hardlyoneofthemhadevertastedchampagnebefore。

Themoment’ssilenceafterthetoastwasbrokenbyMcTeagueexclaimingwithalongbreathofsatisfaction：“That’sthebestbeerIeverdrank。“

Therewasaroaroflaughter。EspeciallywasMarcustickledoverthedentist’sblunder；hewentoffinaveryspasmofmirth，bangingthetablewithhisfist，laughinguntilhiseyeswatered。AllthroughthemealhekeptbreakingoutintocacklingimitationsofMcTeague’swords：“That’sthebestBEERIeverdrank。Oh，Lord，ain’tthatabreak！“

Whatawonderfulsupperthatwas！Therewasoystersoup；

therewereseabassandbarracuda；therewasagiganticroastgoosestuffedwithchestnuts；therewereegg-plantandsweetpotatoes——MissBakercalledthem“yams。“Therewascalf’sheadinoil，overwhichMr。Sieppewentintoecstasies；therewaslobstersalad；therewerericepudding，andstrawberryicecream，andwinejelly，andstewedprunes，andcocoanuts，andmixednuts，andraisins，andfruit，andtea，andcoffee，andmineralwaters，andlemonade。

Fortwohourstheguestsate；theirfacesred，theirelbowswide，theperspirationbeadingtheirforeheads。Allaroundthetableonesawthesameincessantmovementofjawsandheardthesameuninterruptedsoundofchewing。ThreetimesHeisepassedhisplateformoreroastgoose。Mr。Sieppedevouredthecalf’sheadwithlongbreathsofcontentment；

McTeagueateforthesakeofeating，withoutchoice；

everythingwithinreachofhishandsfounditswayintohisenormousmouth。

Therewasbutlittleconversation，andthatonlyofthefood；oneexchangedopinionswithone’sneighborastothesoup，theegg-plant，orthestewedprunes。Soontheroombecameverywarm，afaintmoistureappeareduponthewindows，theairwasheavywiththesmellofcookedfood。

Ateverymome