CHRISTINA STEAD
65
" chip in ," as she herself said .
, '-and because my right arm was only holding the fork and her
sharp elbow was coming my way ; in fact, she was continually nudging
me in the elbow!-because my elbow stuck out to wrestle with a tough
bit of gristle and I made the fork twang and the plate whistle , and her
elbow would be poked out as she went for a juicy tendon , for it was
prime wether mutton about ftfteen years old , though not so old as Miss
Wetherby and perhaps that is why he bought wether, or I don't know
whether. And on my other side , was Miss Rosemary Atkinson , Ratty
Atty 's daughter, beautiful as arose , so that when the old lady with the
bun jabbed my elbow and I jabbed hers , my chop skittered across my
plate on
to
Sweet Rosemary's plate and I had
to
fly after it with my fork
and we both said at the same time, 'Not much chop!' and laughed.
But it was difficult for your Uncle Morgan to laugh because at that
identical moment I had in the side ofmy cheek, my right cheek , on her.
side that is, a large ball of half-chewed tendon and gristle, with a little
bit of bone in the middle . I didn ' t want to swallow the bone , and I
didn ' t want
to
spit it out , so I had embedded it in a ball of refuse,
muchas the dung beetle builds up his precious hoard from droppings,
and I could smile but I could hardly speak. I carried that ball about in
mymouth for an hour after dinner and it was only when I was walking
in the back of the house , in the conservatory with Lady Wassail and she
asked me , " What is the name of that little plant with the heartshaped
leaves , Mr. Jackstraw? " that I could turn round , while pretending to
look, and could rid myselfof the downy greyish ball. For by now , it had
been completely chewed up and also had bits ofsalad and strawberry in
it. For a whole hour I had been rolling that ball between my plate and
my tongue and cheek. "
" What plant was it , Uncle?" said Gilben .
" Of course she knew, she just asked to please me , to get my
attention.
It
was
Orosera rotundt/olia,
a sundew, " said Morgan
carelessly.
,,Another thing, when I am President and hence Chairman of the
Nats and sit at the head of the table, no one can hear my plate clicking.
Your poor Uncle Morg- "
" Morg the Dorg ," said Gilbert who had been only waiting
for this .
" -Morgan ," said Uncle Morgan ftrmly , " no matter what certain
smanies who think themselves very witty may say, " (Gilben the
