The untouched banquet

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

The mayor’s banquet ended before the servants had eaten. Guests praised the abundance, leaving dishes half full beneath the chandeliers. In the kitchen, Ellen counted the remaining portions while the cook prepared a small supper for the staff. The mayor’s steward instructed them to discard anything from the dining tables; reheated food would not do credit to the house.

Ellen asked whether untouched loaves could be kept. The steward said there must be one rule for everything. Through the yard door, she could see two carters waiting after unloading the hired tables. They had worked since morning. The cook cut bread from the kitchen supply and passed it to them, leaving less for the servants.

When the steward returned, he found the table loaves placed separately on a clean cloth. Ellen had marked which had not been cut. He told her the distinction would complicate the clearing. She asked whether throwing away good bread was simpler because nobody who needed it had been at the banquet. The cook continued washing dishes without turning around.

The steward allowed the uncut loaves to be taken, but warned that the mayor should hear no complaint. Ellen gave one to each carter and divided the rest in the kitchen. Next morning, the dining room looked immaculate. Beneath its polished table, a single crust remained, overlooked in the effort to remove every sign of abundance.

“The passage exposes a gap between the banquet’s hospitality and the treatment of workers.”

Evaluate how successfully the writer presents this idea. Support your judgement with detailed references to the passage.