_Dr. Adipose._ (_wiping his chin._) You are too severe, Kyle; au--hau--; you are, indeed, hau--; I’ll trouble you for a cut out of the thick end of that haunch of mutton; it looks delicious; au--hau--, good indeed--very good. _Dr. Kyle._ I’ll send you a slice, Doctor, that will digest on its first contact with the gastric fluid;--there, Sir, there. _Dr. Adipose._ Hau--, very good. I haven’t seen such a haunch as that since the last annual dinner of the society for the benefit of the widows of our department; that _was_ delicious, too. _Capt. Beamish._ Oh, you _have_ a society, then, for the widows of your department, Doctor? _Dr. Adipose._ Yes, yes; I’ll tell you all about it, by-and-by.--A little currant jelly, Thomas. _Dr. Kyle._ Yes, Captain, to the laudable exertions of Sir James M’Grigor we are indebted for a valuable fund,--sufficient to protect our widows and our orphans, if it please God to leave them without other means.--Mr. Lintly, do you take mutton? Oh! Sir, it is a vast advantage. _Major Oldfield._ ’Pon my honour, I am very happy to see such improvements in your department. When I entered the service, now fifty years ago, there was no department at all. A surgeon was something like our present military parson; he used to go about in plain clothes, or with a black coat and a military cocked hat: his pay was bad; and as to his assistant, he was a sort of lob-lolly-boy; but now, how different! Ah! the Duke, Heaven rest his soul! was the first who improved _your_ department, Gentlemen, as well as every other belonging to the army. _Dr. Adipose._ Major--au--I’ll trouble you for a little of the harrico--hau: It looks very well--au--very well, indeed. _Vice-President._ Splint, shall I send you a little pig? _Mr. Splint._ Indeed it is a thing Mrs. Splint is very fond of; and if you like, I’ll send my servant up to you to-morrow for it. _Vice-President._ For what! _Mr. Splint._ Why the little pig you mentioned. _Dr. Adipose._ Poo--oo--au--ha! ha! ha! [_A general laugh--more at the expense of Dr. Adipose than the little pig._] _Vice-President._ Why, my dear Sir, I asked you to take a little of _this_ roast pig. _Mr. Splint._ Oh dear!--I beg your pardon. _Dr. Adipose._ Very good--very good joke indeed--hau. Well, I think as you mentioned it, I’ll taste the little pig--a _lee_tle bit, Mr. President. Devilish good joke--thank you, that will do.