(who was a Toast-master) into a state of utter desperation. John Pounce, the younger, was present, but sat apart, in a moody, sulky way, that created considerable astonishment; for John was a strapping, good-looking young-fellow, with plenty to say for himself, and always, on occasions of festivity, in good humour.
The evening had been spent as most conventional Christmas Eves are. There is a fearful ordeal to be gone through by all who wish to see Christmas-day in according to rule, and this ordeal is called Forfeits. By way of atonement for an imaginary crime you are required to perform an enigmatical and apparently impossible task. As there exist only about six of these supplicia, and as everybody has known them, and their solution by heart from the age of four, and as the tasks, when known, are of the simplest possible description, it is difficult to see in what particular feature the amusement consists. In nearly all cases the penalty involves kisses to be bestowed on young ladies present, which is an insulting view to take of what is usually looked upon as a favour, and places the recipients, moreover, in an embarrassing position. As there was only one young lady present. Miss Round, she became as a matter of course the implement of torture, to the aggravation of the pink young toast-master who appeared to be doing the reverse of drinking everybody's health, and making no exception in favour of young John, between whom and Miss Round an excellent understanding seemed to exist.
Supper had been laid, devoured, and removed, and a fragrant liquor looking like clear soup, but being, in
