I brought it with me.'
'It is not an extensive bag,' said Mr. Grewgious, candidly, 'though
admirably calculated to contain a day's provision for a canary-
bird. Perhaps you brought a canary-bird?'
Rosa smiled and shook her head.
'If you had, he should have been made welcome,' said Mr. Grewgious,
'and I think he would have been pleased to be hung upon a nail
outside and pit himself against our Staple sparrows; whose
execution must be admitted to be not quite equal to their
intention. Which is the case with so many of us! You didn't say
what meal, my dear. Have a nice jumble of all meals.'
Rosa thanked him, but said she could only take a cup of tea. Mr.
Grewgious, after several times running out, and in again, to
mention such supplementary items as marmalade, eggs, watercresses,
salted fish, and frizzled ham, ran across to Furnival's without his
hat, to give his various directions. And soon afterwards they were
realised in practice, and the board was spread.
'Lord bless my soul,' cried Mr. Grewgious, putting the lamp upon
it, and taking his seat opposite Rosa; 'what a new sensation for a
poor old Angular bachelor, to be sure!'
Rosa's expressive little eyebrows asked him what he meant?
'The sensation of having a sweet young presence in the place, that
whitewashes it, paints it, papers it, decorates it with gilding,
and makes it Glorious!' said Mr. Grewgious.
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