»Law!« said Remarkable, »I'm glad if the Judge is pleased; but I'm notional
that you'll find the sa'ce overdone. I thought, as Elizabeth was coming home,
that a body could do no less than make things agreeable.«
    »My daughter has now grown to woman's estate, and is from this moment
mistress of my house,« said the Judge; »it is proper, that all, who live with
me, address her as Miss Temple.«
    »Do tell!« exclaimed Remarkable, a little aghast; »well who ever heerd of a
young woman's being called Miss? If the Judge had a wife now, I shouldn't think
of calling her any thing but Miss Temple; but -«
    »Having nothing but a daughter, you will observe that style to her, if you
please, in future,« interrupted Marmaduke.
    As the Judge look'd seriously displeased, and, at such moments, carried a
particularly commanding air with him, the wary housekeeper made no reply; and,
Mr. Grant entering the room, the whole party were soon seated at the table. As
the arrangements of this repast were much in the prevailing taste of that period
and country, we shall endeavour to give a short description of the appearance of
the banquet.
    The table-linen was of the most beautiful damask, and the plates and dishes
of real china, an article of great luxury at this early period in American
commerce. The knives and forks were of exquisitely polished steel, and were set
in unclouded ivory. So much being furnished by the wealth of Marmaduke, was not
only comfortable, but even elegant. The contents of the several dishes, and
their positions, however, were the result of the sole judgment of Remarkable.
Before Elizabeth, was placed an enormous roasted turkey, and before Richard, one
boiled. In the centre of the table, stood a pair of heavy silver castors,
surrounded by four dishes; one a fricassee, that consisted of gray squirrels;
another of fish fried; a third of fish boiled; the last was a venison steak.
Between these dishes and the turkeys, stood, on the one side, a prodigious chine
of roasted bear's meat, and on the other a boiled leg of delicious mutton.
Interspersed among this load of meats, was every species of vegetables that the
season and country afforded. The four corners were garnished with plates of
cake. On one was piled certain curiously twisted and complicated figures, called
nut-cakes.