He was fain to content himself with the cheese
and celery, eating so much of it that it may be a question whether the
withholding of the cold pork had been a gain in point of economy.
Laying down his knife at length, he put back his chair to return to the
surgery. Generally he was not in so much haste; he liked to wait until
the things were removed, even to the cloth, lest by a speedy departure
he might miss some nice little dainty or other, coming in at the tail of
the repast. It is true such impromptu arrivals were not common at Miss
West's table, but Master Cheese liked to be on the sure side.
"You are in a hurry," remarked Miss Amilly, surprised at the unwonted
withdrawal.
"Jan's out," returned Master Cheese. "Folks may be coming in to the
surgery."
"I wonder if Mr. Jan will be late to-night?" cried Miss Deb.
"Of course he will," confidently replied Master Cheese. "Who ever heard
of a wedding-party breaking up before morning?"
For this reason, probably, Master Cheese returned to the surgery,
prepared to "make a night of it"--not altogether in the general
acceptation of that term, but at his chemical experiments.
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