"Your reason interfered with our way, though," said Norton. "You as
good as said it is wrong to do something we all do."

"Well," said Matilda very slowly,--"ought you not to try to hinder
people from doing what is not right?"

"How do you know what is not right?" said Norton.

"The Bible tells."

"Where does the Bible say it is wrong to drink wine?" Norton asked
quickly.

"I'll shew you when we get home."

"Everybody does it, anyhow," said Norton; "and one must do what
everybody does."

"Mr. Richmond don't, Norton."

"Mr. Richmond! He's a minister."

"Well! Other people ought to be as good as ministers."

"They _can't_," said Norton. "Besides--Mr. Richmond is all very well;
he's a brick; but then he is not a fashionable man, and he don't know
the world."

"Are ministers ever fashionable men?" said Matilda, opening her eyes a
little.

"Certainly. Why not. Dr. Blandford likes a good glass of wine as well
as any one, and knows how to drink it. He likes a good dinner too."

"What do you mean, Norton? Anybody knows how to drink a glass of wine."

"Everybody don't know how to drink half a dozen glasses, though," said
Norton. "A wine may be out of place; and it is not good out of place."

"You take it at dinner," said Matilda.

"Yes, but different wines at different times of the dinner," said
Norton. "Everything in its place, as much as everything in its own
glass, and much more. For instance, you take light wines with the soup;
Hock, or Sauterne, or grandmamma's favorite Greek wine. Then champagne
with the dinner. Port goes with the cheese. Then claret is good with
the fruit; and sherry and madeira with the dessert, or any time. And
Dr. Blandford likes a bowl of whiskey punch to finish off with."

"Is he your minister?"

"Dr. Blandford? yes. That is, he's grand-mamma's."

"Do you think he is as good as Mr. Richmond?"

"He's better, for a dinner party," said Norton. "He knows what's what,
as well as anybody. Now Pink, jump out; here we are."

The stately brown-fronted store struck Matilda with a certain sense of
awe. Dr. Blandford was forgotten for the present. She followed Norton
in, and stood still to take breath.

"Now," said Norton, "what shall we look at first? What do you want? How
many things have you got to get, anyhow, Pink?"

"You know how many people there are at home. Then there are two or
three others I have to think of."

"Hm!--seven or eight, I declare," said Norton. "Well, le