I was biding time. And my biding was making me bitter.

Lest we exaggerate the difference between classes in real life, let us remember that our problem is essentially literary, not sociological: to explain the difference not between real peasants and real aristocrats, but between homo Aristophaneus and homo Platonicus.

After the wonderful service that evening he didn’t hesitate in laying a substantial perquisite on the table.

Do you like cake or pie? Yes.