Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/322

 3.18 HIFFERNAN. like an angelt in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world—the paragon of animals?’ “Having thus given the general opinion of three great men on this subject, I shall commence with describing the head of this paragon of animals.”—Here the doctor entered into a common-place description of the skull, the brains, &c. which lasted about half an hour; when, taking up the print, and restoring the head of the skeleton (which he had previously doubled down) to i t s former position, h e next undertook a description o f the breast. “Here, gentlemen, says he, i s the next part o f this very extraordinary animal, which may b e very properly called, from i t s very curious, bend and texture, the bread basketry o f the human frame.” At this the audience could hold out n o longer, but unanimously burst out into a horse laugh, which made the doctor pause for some minutes, and produced i n the company likewise a n aukward and embarrassed silence. A t last, one o f the gentlemen broke ground b y saying, “Why, doctor, a s we are a l l friends, and a s the subscription has been paid in, what signifies giving yourself any further trouble —We are satisfied o f your capacity, and we can dispense with any further lectures.” —“Aye, aye,” joined the rest o f the company. “Why, then,” continued the first speaker, “suppose you a l l come and take a bit o f dinner with me to-day, when we shall see what we are able t o d o i n anatomizing the bottle.” - - - ) The sound o f a gratuitous good dinner always fell very musically o n Hiffernan's ear, and i n the present instance peculiarly s o, a s i t not only plentifully provided for the wants o f one day, but released him from the trouble o f two days more attendance, without losing any part o f his subscription-money. Hence the brow o f the grave and philosophic lecturer instantly relaxed into that o f the con vivial, familiar acquaintance—he stepped from behind the corner of his little table with the utmost cheerfulness, paid his congees separately t o his friends, ordered u p some coffee, which h e left them t o pay for, and soon after met