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
corks--fizz the foamy liquor sparkled into all sorts of glasses that
were 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