My dear Vincent,—Tho’ it is very proper that people should go out in cold weather to see their friends, it does not appear to me quite so proper that they should go out after dinner as before; ergo, this comes to say that I hope, in consideration of the frost and snow, you will come at three to-morrow instead of five. I will treat you exactly as you treated me, therefore there is to be no excuse on that score. If anybody prefers it, I will not treat them so well; they shall have a cold potatoe at a sideboard, with their feet in a pail of water. So pray come. Our meeting will be two hours the earlier; and not to dine with me, under all the circumstances, would be indecent.
COME AT 3 (a placard yell, or Clarke whisper).
P.S.—I find that my exactly is not quite exact. There is to be a piece of boiled beef to-morrow; but then we have mutton to-day, which will be conveniently cold for those who prefer the worse fare. By the way I hope you all like boiled beef. I think I recollect that you and Mary do, but not so sure of the Clarkes. I must presume, with them, upon the ground of its being generally liked.
