‘ ’Deed, sir, ’deed,’ replied Watchorn, ‘your uncle Jellyboy’s a very fine feller, I dare say -- very fine feller; no such conjurors in these parts as he is. What man dare, I dare; he who dares more, is no man,’ added Watchorn, giving his fat thigh a hearty slap.

‘Well done, old Talliho!’ exclaimed Miss Glitters. ‘We’ll have you on the stage next.’

‘What will you wet your whistle with after your fine speech?’ asked Lady Scattercash.

‘Take a tumbler of chumpine, if there is any,’ replied Watchorn, looking about for a long-necked bottle.

‘Fear you’ll come on badly,’ observed Captain Seedeybuck, holding up an empty one, ‘for Bouncey and I have just finished the last;’ the captain chucking the bottle sideways on to the floor, and rolling it towards its companions in the corner.

‘Have a fresh bottle,’ suggested Lady Scattercash, drawing the bellstring at her chair.

‘Champagne,’ said her ladyship, as the footman answered the summons.

‘Two on ’em!’ exclaimed Captain Bouncey.

‘Three!’ shouted Sir Harry.

‘We’ll have a regular set-to,’ observed Miss Howard, who was fond of champagne.

‘New Year’s Day,’ replied Bouncey, ‘and ought to be properly observed.’

Presently, Fiz-z-pop -- bang! Fiz-z-pop -- bang! went the bottles; and, as the hissing beverage foamed over the bottlenecks, glasses were sought and held out to catch the creaming contents.

‘Here’s a (hiccup) happy new year to us all!’ exclaimed Sir Harry, drinking off his wine.

‘H-o-o-ray!’ exclaimed the company in irregular order, as they drank off theirs.

‘We’ll drink Mr Watchorn and the Nonsuch hounds!’ exclaimed Bob Spangles, as Watchorn, having drained off his tumbler, replaced it on the sideboard.

‘With all the honours!’ exclaimed Captain Cutitfat, filling his glass and rising to give the time; ‘Watchorn, your good health!’ ‘Watchorn, your good health!’ ‘Watchorn, your good health!’ sounded from all parts, which Watchorn kept acknowledging, and looking about for the means to return the compliment, his friends being more intent upon drinking his health than upon supplying him with wine. At last he caught the third of a bottle of ‘chumpine,’ and emptying it into his tumbler, held it up while he thus addressed them:

‘Gen’lemen all!’ said he, ‘I thank you most ’ticklarly for this mark of your ’tention (applause); it’s most gratifyin’ to my feelin’s to be thus remembered (applause). I could say a great deal more, but the liquor won’t wait.’ So saying, he drained off his glass while the wine evervesced.

‘Well, and what d’ye (hiccup) of the weather now?’ asked Sir Harry, as his huntsman again deposited his tumbler on the sideboard.

‘ ’Pon my soul! Sir ’Arry,’ replied Watchorn, quite briskly, ‘I really think we might ’unt -- we might try, at all events. The day seems changed, some’ow,’ added he, staring vacantly out of the window on the bright sunny landscape, with the leafless trees dancing before his eyes.

‘I think so,’ said Sir Harry. ‘What do you think, Mr Sponge?’ added he, appealing to our hero.

‘Half an hour may make a great difference,’ observed Mr Sponge. ‘The sun will then be at its best.’