“Thank you, Guppy,” says Mr. Jobling. “I really don’t know but what I will take summer cabbage.”
Order given; with the sarcastic addition (from Mr. Smallweed) of “Without slugs, Polly!” And cabbage produced.
“I am growing up, Guppy,” says Mr. Jobling, plying his knife and fork with a relishing steadiness.
“Glad to hear it.”
“In fact, I have just turned into my teens,” says Mr. Jobling.
He says no more until he has performed his task, which he achieves as Messrs. Guppy and Smallweed finish theirs, thus getting over the ground in excellent style and beating those two gentlemen easily by a veal and ham and a cabbage.
“Now, Small,” says Mr. Guppy, “what would you recommend about pastry?”
“Marrow puddings,” says Mr. Smallweed instantly.
“Aye, aye!” cries Mr. Jobling with an arch look. “You’re there, are you? Thank you, Mr. Guppy, I don’t know but what I will take a marrow pudding.”
Three marrow puddings being produced, Mr. Jobling adds in a pleasant humour that he is coming of age fast. To these succeed, by command of Mr. Smallweed, “three Cheshires,” and to those “three small rums.” This apex of the entertainment happily reached, Mr. Jobling puts up his legs on the carpeted seat (having his own side of the box to himself), leans against the wall, and says, “I am grown up now, Guppy. I have arrived at maturity.”