Cook and gardener forsooth! Cheon was
Cheon, and only Cheon; and there is no word in the English language to
define Cheon or the position he filled, simply because there was never
another like Cheon.
"Chuckie!" he sang, placing the pullets before the Maluka, and
dispatching Jimmy's Nellie for hot plates; "Roast Vealer for Mac," and as
Mac smiled and acknowledged the honour, Rosy was dismissed. "Boilee
Ham" was allotted to the Dandy; and as Bertie's Nellie scampered away,
Cheon announced other triumphs in turn and in order of merit, each of the
company receiving a dish also in order of merit: Tam-o'-Shanter
contenting himself with the gravy boat, while, from the beginning, the
Quiet Stockman had been honoured with the hop-beer.
Long before the last waitress was relieved, the carvers were at work, and
the company was bubbling over with merriment. "Have some veal, chaps?"
the Sanguine Scot said, opening the ball by sticking a carving fork into
the great joint, and waving the knife in a general way round the company;
then as the gravy sizzed out in a steaming gurgle he added invitingly:
"Come on, chaps! This is VEAL prime stuff! None of your staggering Bob
tack"; and the Maluka and the Dandy bidding against him, to Cheon's
delight, every one "came on" for some of everything; for veal and ham and
chicken and several vegetables and sauces blend wonderfully together when
a Cheon's hand has been at the helm.
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