" "Agreed," said
Eglantine, winking at Echo; "we'll have a _round of sculls_. Every man
shall sing a song, write a poetical epitaph on his right hand
companion, or drink off a double dose of rum booze."{6} "Then I shall
be confoundedly _cut_," said Dick Gradus, "for I never yet could chant a
stave or make a couplet in my life." "And I protest against a practice,"
said Lionise, "that has a tendency to trifle with one's _transitory
tortures_." "No appeal from the chair," said Eglantine: "another bumper,
boys; here's The Fair _Nuns of St. Clement's_." "To which I beg leave to
add," said Echo, "by way of rider, their favourite pursuit, _The Study
of the Fathers_." By the time these toasts had been duly honoured, some
of the party displayed symptoms of being _moderately cut_, when Echo
commenced by reciting his epitaph on his next friend, Bob Transit:--
Here rests a wag, whose pencil drew
Life's characters of varied hue,
Bob Transit--famed in humour's sphere
For many a transitory year.
Though dead, still in the "English Spy"
He'll live for ever to the eye.
Here uncle White{7} reclines in peace,
Secure from nephew and from niece.
6 Rum booze--Flip made of white or port wine, the yolks of
eggs, sugar and nutmeg.
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