Summary

Portrait of Mark Twain Mark Twain The Million Pound Bank Note — Chapter XI (1893)

No; the usual thing happened, the thing that is always happening under that vicious and aggravating English system - the matter of precedence couldn't be settled, and so there was no dinner. Englishmen always eat dinner before they go out to dinner, because they know the risks they are running; but nobody ever warns the stranger, and so he walks placidly into trap.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Mark Twain Mark Twain The Million Pound Bank Note — Chapter XI (1893)

Here the religion of precedence is not so strenuous; the two persons of highest rank chuck up a shilling, the one that wins has first go at his strawberry, and the loser gets the shilling. The next two chuck up, then the next two, and so on. After refreshment, tables were brought, and we all played cribbage, sixpence a game. The English never play any game for amusement. If they can't make something or lose something - they don't care which - they won't play.
Source: Wikisource

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