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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 479
coaxed, wheedled, and won over to our side, to Philip's side. He
had her vote for the sub-editorship, whatever might ensue.
Most of our guests had already arrived, when at length Mrs.
Mugford was announced. I am bound to say that she presented a
remarkable appearance, and that the splendour of her attire was
such as is seldom beheld.
Bickerton and Philip were presented to one another, and had a
talk about French politics before dinner, during which conversation
Philip behaved with perfect discretion and politeness. Bickerton
had happened to hear Philip's letters well spoken of—in a good
quarter, mind; and his cordiality increased when Lord Egham
entered, called Philip by his surname, and entered into a perfectly
free conversation with him. Old Lady Hixie went into perfectly
good society, Bickerton condescended to acknowledge. "As for
Mrs. Mugford," says he, with a glance of wondering compassion at
that lady, " of course, I need not tell you that she is seen nowhere
—nowhere." This said, Mr. Bickerton stepped forward, and calmly
patronised my wife, gave me a good-natured nod for my own part ;
reminded Lord Egham that he had had the pleasure of meeting him
at Egham; and then fixed on Tom Page, of the Bread-and-Butter
Office (who I own is one of our most genteel guests), with whom he
entered into a discussion of some political matter of that day—I
forget what : but the main point was that he named two or three
leading public men with whom he had discussed the question, whatever
it might be. He named very great names, and led us to understand
that with the proprietors of those very great names he was
on the most intimate and confidential footing. With his owners—
with the proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette, he was on the most
distant terms, and indeed I am afraid that his behaviour to myself
and my wife was scarcely respectful. I fancied I saw Philip's brow
gathering wrinkles as his eye followed this man strutting from one
person to another, and patronising each. The dinner was a little
late, from some reason best known in the lower regions. " I take
it," says Bickerton, winking at Philip, in a pause of the conversation,
" that our good friend and host is not much used to giving
dinners. The mistress of the house is evidently in a state of perturbation."
Philip gave such a horrible grimace that the other at
first thought he was in pain.
" You, who have lived a great deal with old Ringwood, know what
a good dinner is," Bickerton continued, giving Firmin a knowing look.
" Any dinner is good which is accompanied with such a welcome
as I get here," said Philip.
"Oh! very good people, very good people, of course!" cries
Bickerton.