Honourable Ned's was rather too much. "Now, Sam," says
I, "be a man and show your spirit!" So I spoke up at once, and said,
"Why, ladies, as the right honourable gent is so _very_ pressing, I'll
give up my engagement, and shall have sincere pleasure in cutting mutton
with him. What's your hour, sir?"

He didn't condescend to answer, and for me I did not care; for, you see,
I did not intend to dine with the man, but only to give him a lesson of
manners. For though I am but a poor fellow, and hear people cry out how
vulgar it is to eat peas with a knife, or ask three times for cheese, and
such like points of ceremony, there's something, I think, much more
vulgar than all this, and that is, insolence to one's inferiors. I hate
the chap that uses it, as I scorn him of humble rank that affects to be
of the fashion; and so I determined to let Mr. Preston know a piece of my
mind.

When the carriage drove up to his house, I handed out the ladies as
politely as possible, and walked into the hall, and then, taking hold of
Mr. Preston's button at the door, I said, before the ladies and the two
big servants--upon my word I did--"Sir," says I, "this kind old lady
asked me into her carriage, and I rode in it to please her, not myself.
When you came up and asked who the devil I was, I thought you might have
put the question in a more polite manner; but it wasn't my business to
speak. When, by way of a joke, you invited me to dinner, I thought I
would answer in a joke too, and here I am. But don't be frightened; I'm
not a-going to dine with you: only if you play the same joke upon other
parties--on some of the chaps in our office, for example--I recommend you
to have a care, or they will _take you at your word_."

"Is that all, sir?" says Mr. Preston, still in a rage. "If you have
done, will you leave this house, or shall my servants turn you out? Turn
out this fellow! do you hear me?" and he broke away from me, and flung
into his study in a rage.

"He's an ojous horrid monsther of a man, that husband of yours!" said
Lady Drum, seizing hold of her elder grand-daughter's arm, "and I hate
him; and so come away, for the dinner'll be getting cold:" and she was
for hurrying away Lady Jane without more ado. But that kind lady, coming
forward, looking very pale and trembling, said, "Mr. Titmarsh, I do hope
you'll not be angry--that is, that you'll forget what has happened, for,
believe me, it has given me very great--"

Very gr