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liking for him； that she gave utterance to the speech above correctly
reported。 The Tories were delighted with her spirit； and Cornet Fitch；
with much glee； told the story to the General； but that officer； who was at
whist with some of his friends； flung down his cards； and coming up to his
lady； said briefly；
〃Madam； you are a fool！〃
〃I will NOT stay here to be bearded by that disgusting man！Mr。 Fitch；
call my people。Henrietta； bring Miss Lucy from that linendraper with
whom she is dancing。 I will not stay； General； once for all。〃
Henrietta ranshe hated her cousin： Cornet Fitch was departing。
〃Stop； Fitch；〃 said Sir George； seizing him by the arm。 〃You are a fool；
Lady Gorgon；〃 said he； 〃and I repeat ita … fool！ This fellow Scully is
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carrying all before him： he has talked with everybody； laughed with
everybodyand you； with your infernal airsa brewer's daughter； by …；
must sit like a queen and not speak to a soul！ You've lost me one seat of
my borough； with your infernal pridefifteen hundred a year； by Jove！
and you think you will bully me out of another。 No； madam； you
SHALL stay； and stay supper too；and the girls shall dance with every
cursed chimney…sweep and butcher in the room： they shallconfound
me！〃
Her Ladyship saw that it was necessary to submit； and Mr。 Springer；
the master of the ceremonies； was called； and requested to point out some
eligible partners for the young ladies。 One went off with a Whig
auctioneer； another figured in a quadrille with a very Liberal apothecary；
and the third； Miss Henrietta； remained。
〃Hallo you； sir！〃 roared the little General to John Perkins； who was
passing by。 John turned round and faced him。
〃You were dancing with my niece just nowshow us your skill now；
and dance with one of my daughters。 Stand up； Miss Henrietta Gorgon
Mr。 What's…your…name？〃
〃My name；〃 said John； with marked and majestic emphasis； 〃is
PERKINS。〃 And he looked towards Lucy； who dared not look again。
〃Miss GorgonMr。 Perkins。 There； now go and dance。〃
〃Mr。 Perkins regrets； madam；〃 said John； making a bow to Miss
Henrietta； 〃that he is not able to dance this evening。 I am this moment
obliged to look to the supper； but you will find； no doubt； some other
PERSON who will have much pleasure。〃
〃Go to …； sir！〃 screamed the General； starting up； and shaking his
cane。
〃Calm yourself； dearest George；〃 said Lady Gorgon； clinging fondly to
him。 Fitch twiddled his moustaches。 Miss Henrietta Gorgon stared
with open mouth。 The silks of the surrounding dowagers rustledthe
countenances of all looked grave。
〃I will follow you； sir； wherever you please； and you may hear of me
whenever you like；〃 said Mr。 Perkins； bowing and retiring。 He heard
little Lucy sobbing in a corner。 He was lost at oncelost in love； he felt
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as if he could combat fifty generals！ he never was so happy in his life。
The supper came； but as that meal cost five shillings a head； General
Gorgon dismissed the four spinsters of his family homewards in the
carriage； and so saved himself a pound。 This added to Jack Perkins's
wrath； he had hoped to have seen Miss Lucy once more。 He was a
steward； and； in the General's teeth； would have done his duty。 He was
thinking how he would have helped her to the most delicate chicken…wings
and blancmanges； how he WOULD have made her take champagne。
Under the noses of indignant aunt and uncle； what glorious fun it would
have been！
Out of place as Mr。 Scully's present was； and though Lady Gorgon and
her party sneered at the vulgar notion of venison and turtle for supper； all
the world at Oldborough ate very greedily of those two substantial dishes；
and the Mayor's wife became from that day forth a mortal enemy of the
Gorgons： for； sitting near her Ladyship； who refused the proffered soup
and meat； the Mayoress thought herself obliged to follow this disagreeable
example。 She sent away the plate of turtle with a sigh； saying； however；
to the baronet's lady； 〃I thought； mem； that the LORD MAYOR OF
LONDON always had turtle to his supper？〃
〃And what if he didn't； Biddy？〃 said his Honour the Mayor； 〃a good
thing's a good thing； and here goes！〃 wherewith he plunged his spoon into
the savoury mess。 The Mayoress； as we have said； dared not； but she
hated Lady Gorgon； and remembered it at the next election。
The pride； in fact； and insolence of the Gorgon party rendered every
person in the room hostile to them； so soon as； gorged with meat； they
began to find that courage which Britons invariably derive from their
victuals。 The show of the Gorgon plate seemed to offend the people。
The Gorgon champagne was a long time； too； in making its appearance。
Arrive； however； it did。 The people were waiting for it； the young ladies；
not accustomed to that drink； declined pledging their admirers until it was
produced； the men； too； despised the bucellas and sherry； and were looking
continually towards the door。 At last； Mr。 Rincer； the landlord； Mr。 Hock；
Sir George's butler； and sundry others entered the room。 Bang！ went the
corksfizz the foamy liquor sparkled into all sorts of glasses that were
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held out for its reception。 Mr。 Hock helped Sir George and his party； who
drank with great gusto； the wine which was administered to the persons
immediately around Mr。 Scully was likewise pronounced to be good。
But Mr。 Perkins； who had taken his seat among the humbler individuals；
and in the very middle of the table； observed that all these persons； after
drinking； made to each other very wry and ominous faces； and whispered
much。 He tasted his wine： it was a villanous compound of sugar； vitriol；
soda…water； and green goos