Delia handed Mrs.
Hunter in, and Mrs. Phoebe took the younger guest.
The ladies' faces both bore token of their recent attention to the
preparation of the meal, and the curious dishes would have been highly
interesting to Betty, but there was no large quantity of any, and a
single chicken was the _piece de resistance_, whence very tiny helps
were dealt out, and there was much unnecessary pressing to take a
little more, both of that and of the brace of partridges which
succeeded it. As to conversation, there was room for none, except
hospitable invitations from the hostesses to take the morsels that
they cut for their guests, praises of the viands from Mrs. Hunter,
and endeavours to fish at the recipes, which the owners guarded
jealously as precious secrets. Aurelia sat perfectly silent, as
was then reckoned as proper in a young lady of her age, except
when addressed. A good deal of time was also expended in directing
John Stiggins, the ladies' own man, and George Brown, who had ridden
with Mrs. Hunter from Brentford, in the disposal of the dishes, and
the handing of the plates. George Brown was the more skilled waiter,
and as the man who was at home did not brook interference, their
disputes were rude and audible, and kept the ladies in agonies lest
they should result in ruin to the best china.
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