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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 477
only money was no object to him then, dear fellow, and he did not
like to keep the poor out of what he didn't want !"
Mrs. Mugford had always considered the young man as very
haughty, but quite the gentleman, and speedily was infected by her
gossip's enthusiasm about him. My wife hired a fly, packed several
of the children into it, called upon Mrs. Mugford, and chose to be
delighted with that lady's garden, with that lady's nursery—with
everything that bore the name of Mugford. It was a curiosity to
remark in what a flurry of excitement these women plunged, and
how they schemed, and coaxed, and caballed, in order to get this
place for their protege*. My wife thought—she merely happened to
surmise : nothing more, of course—that Mrs. Mugford's fond desire
was to shine in the world. " Could we not ask some people—with
—with what you call handles to their names,—I think I before
heard you use some such term, sir,—to meet the Mugfords ? Some
of Philip's old friends, who I am sure would be very happy to serve
him." Some such artifice was, I own, practised. We coaxed,
cajoled, fondled the Mugfords for Philip's sake, and Heaven forgive
Mrs. Laura her hypocrisy. We had an entertainment then, I own.
We asked our finest company, and Mr. and Mrs. Mugford to meet
them : and we prayed that unlucky Philip to be on his best behaviour
to all persons who were invited to the feast.
Before my wife this lion of a Firmin was as a lamb. Rough,
captious, and overbearing in general society, with those whom he
loved and esteemed Philip was of all men the most modest and
humble. He would never tire of playing with our children, joining
in their games, laughing and roaring at their little sports. I have
never had such a laugher at my jokes as Philip Firmin. I think
my wife liked him for that noble guffaw with which he used to salute
those pieces of wit. He arrived a little late sometimes with his
laughing chorus, but ten people at table were not so loud as this
faithful friend. On the contrary, when those people for whom he
has no liking venture on a pun or other pleasantry, I am bound to
own that Philip's acknowledgment of their waggery must be anything
but pleasant or flattering to them. Now, on occasion of this
important dinner, I enjoined him to be very kind, and very civil,
and very much pleased with everybody, and to stamp upon nobody's
corns, as, indeed, why should he, in life ? Who was he to be censor
morum ? And it has been said that no man could admit his own
faults with a more engaging candour than our friend.
We invited, then, Mugford, the proprietor of the Pall Mall
Gazette, and his wife ; and Bickerton, the editor of that periodical ;
Lord Egham, Philip's old College friend; and one or two more
gentlemen. Our invitations to the ladies were not so fortunate.