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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 279
attend the Saturday reception of the Ministers' ladies, where he
might be seen, with dirty hands, it is true, but a richly embroidered
waistcoat and fancy satin tie. His heart, however, was not in
these entertainments. I have heard him say that he only came
because Mrs. M. would have it; and he frankly owned that he
" would rather 'ave a pipe, and a drop of something 'ot, than all
your ices and rubbish."
Mugford had a curious knowledge of what was going on in the
world, and of the affairs of countless people. When Cass brought
Philip's article to his Excellency, and mentioned the author's name,
Mugford showed himself to be perfectly familiar with the histories
of Philip and his father. " The old chap has nobbled the young
fellow's money, almost every shilling of it, I hear. Knew he never
would carry on. His discounts would have killed any man. Seen
his paper about this ten year. Young one is a gentleman—passionate
fellow, hawhaw fellow, but kind to the poor. Father never
was a gentleman, with all his fine airs and fine waistcoats. I don't
set up in that line myself, Cass, but I tell you I know 'em when I
see 'em."
Philip had friends and private patrons whose influence was great
with the Mugford family, and of whom he little knew. Every year
Mrs. M. was in the habit of contributing a Mugford to the world.
She was one of Mrs. Brandon's most regular clients ; and year after
year, almost from his first arrival in London, Ridley, the painter,
had been engaged as portrait painter to this worthy family. Philip
and his illness; Philip and his horses, splendours, and entertainments
; Philip and his lamentable downfall and ruin, had formed the
subject of many an interesting talk between Mrs. Mugford and her
friend the Little Sister ; and as we know Caroline's infatuation about
the young fellow, we may suppose that his good qualities lost nothing
in the description. When that article in the Pall Mall Gazette appeared,
Nurse Brandon took the omnibus to Haverstock Hill, where,
as you know, Mugford had his villa ;—arrived at Mrs. Mugford's,
Gazette in hand, and had a long and delightful conversation with
that lady. Mrs. Brandon bought I don't know how many copies of
that Pall Mall Gazette. She now asked for it repeatedly in her
walks at sundry ginger-beer shops, and of all sorts of newsvendors.
I have heard that when the Mugfords first purchased the Gazette,
Mrs. M. used to drop bills from her pony-chaise, and distribute placards
setting forth the excellence of the journal. "We keep our
carriage, but we ain't above our business, Brandon," that good lady
would say. And the business prospered under the management of
these worthy folks; and the pony-chaise unfolded into a noble
barouche; and the pony increased and multiplied, and became a