He was doing well--far, indeed, beyond his utmost
expectation--but at the same time he did not consider himself
justified in spending money upon luxuries.
Tea, therefore, and cooling drinks made from fruits, after the
custom of the country, were provided in abundance for the dancers;
but wine was not produced. With this proviso, Mr. Hardy had no
objection to his young people having their dances frequently; and
in a country where all were living in a rough way, and wine was an
unknown luxury, no one missed it. In other respects the supper
tables might have been admired at an English ball. Of substantials
there was abundance--turkeys and fowls, wild duck and other game.
The sweets were represented by trifle, creams, and blanc-manges;
while there was a superb show of fruit--apricots, peaches,
nectarines, pineapples, melons, and grapes. Among them were vases
of gorgeous flowers, most of them tropical in character, but with
them were many old English friends, of which Mr. Hardy had procured
seeds.
Their neighbors at Canterbury were still their most intimate
friends: they were shortly, however, to lose one of them. Mr.
Cooper had heard six months before of the death of his two elder
brothers in rapid succession, and he was now heir to his father's
property, which was very extensive.
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