Tom’s first royal dinner.

           Somewhatafteroneintheafternoon,Tomresignedlyunderwenttheordealofbeingdressedfordinner.Hefoundhimselfasfinelyclothedasbefore,buteverythingdifferent,everythingchanged,fromhisrufftohisstockings.Hewaspresentlyconductedwithmuchstatetoaspaciousandornateapartment,whereatablewasalreadysetforone.Itsfurniturewasallofmassygold,andbeautifiedwithdesignswhichwell-nighmadeitpriceless,sincetheyweretheworkofBenvenuto.Theroomwashalf-filledwithnobleservitors.Achaplainsaidgrace,andTomwasabouttofallto,forhungerhadlongbeenconstitutionalwithhim,butwasinterruptedbymylordtheEarlofBerkeley,whofastenedanapkinabouthisneck;forthegreatpostofDiapererstothePrinceofWaleswashereditaryinthisnobleman’sfamily.Tom’scupbearerwaspresent,andforestalledallhisattemptstohelphimselftowine.TheTastertohishighnessthePrinceofWaleswastherealso,preparedtotasteanysuspiciousdishuponrequirement,andruntheriskofbeingpoisoned.Hewasonlyanornamentalappendageatthistime,andwasseldomcalledupontoexercisehisfunction;buttherehadbeentimes,notmanygenerationspast,whentheofficeoftasterhaditsperils,andwasnotagrandeurtobedesired.Whytheydidnotuseadogoraplumberseemsstrange;butallthewaysofroyaltyarestrange.MyLordd’Arcy,FirstGroomoftheChamber,wasthere,todogoodnessknowswhat;buttherehewas—letthatsuffice.TheLordChiefButlerwasthere,andstoodbehindTom’schair,overseeingthesolemnities,undercommandoftheLordGreatStewardandtheLordHeadCook,whostoodnear.Tomhadthreehundredandeighty-fourservantsbesidethese;buttheywerenotallinthatroom,ofcourse,northequarterofthem;neitherwasTomawareyetthattheyexisted.

           Allthosethatwerepresenthadbeenwelldrilledwithinthehourtorememberthattheprincewastemporarilyoutofhishead,andtobecarefultoshownosurpriseathisvagaries.