Instead of having any quiet after the retreat of the ladies,the house was kept in a rattle,and the glasses jingled on the table as the flymen and coachmen plied the knocker,and the soiree came in.From my place I could see everything:the guests as they arrived (I remarked very few carriages,mostly cabs and flies),and a little crowd of blackguard boys and children,who were formed round the door,and gave ironical cheers to the folks as they stepped out of their vehicles.
As for the evening-party,if a crowd in the dog-days is pleasant,poor Mrs.Timmins certainly had a successful soiree.
You could hardly move on the stair.Mrs.Sternhold broke in the banisters,and nearly fell through.There was such a noise and chatter you could not hear the singing of the Miss Gashleighs,which was no great loss.Lady Bungay could hardly get to her carriage,being entangled with Colonel Wedgewood in the passage.
An absurd attempt was made to get up a dance of some kind;but before Mrs.Crowder had got round the room,the hanging-lamp in the dining-room below was stove in,and fell with a crash on the table,now prepared for refreshment.
Why,in fact,did the Timminses give that party at all?It was quite beyond their means.They have offended a score of their old friends,and pleased none of their acquaintances.So angry were many who were not asked,that poor Rosa says she must now give a couple more parties and take in those not previously invited.And I know for a fact that Fubsby's bill is not yet paid;nor Binney and Latham's the wine-merchants;that the breakage and hire of glass and china cost ever so much money;that every true friend of Timmins has cried out against his absurd extravagance,and that now,when every one is going out of town,Fitz has hardly money to pay his circuit,much more to take Rosa to a watering-place,as he wished and promised.