If there BE such let them pardon me--I, for one, my dear Heeltap, will be among you on Friday night--ay, and hereby invite all pretty Tory Misses, who are in want of a partner.
"I am here in the very midst of good things, you know, and we old folks like A SUPPER after a dance.Please to accept a brace of bucks and a turtle, which come herewith.My worthy colleague, who was so liberal last year of his soup to the poor, will not, I trust, refuse to taste a little of Alderman Birch's--'tis offered on my part with hearty goodwill.Hey for the 6th, and vive la joie!
"Ever, my dear Heeltap, your faithful "W.PITT SCULLY.
"P.S.--Of course this letter is STRICTLY PRIVATE.Say that the venison, etc.came from a WELL-WISHER TO OLDBOROUGH."This amazing letter was published, in defiance of Mr.Scully's injunctions, by the enthusiastic Heeltap, who said, bluntly, in a preface, "that he saw no reason why Mr.Scully should be ashamed of his action, and he, for his part, was glad to let all friends at Oldborough know of it."The allusion about the Gorgon soup was killing: thirteen paupers in Oldborough had, it was confidently asserted, died of it.Lady Gorgon, on the reading of this letter, was struck completely dumb;Sir George Gorgon was wild.Ten dozen of champagne was he obliged to send down to the "Gorgon Arms," to be added to the festival.He would have stayed away if he could, but he dared not.
At nine o'clock, he in general's uniform; his wife in blue satin and diamonds; his daughters in blue crape and white roses; his niece, Lucy Gorgon, in white muslin; his son, George Augustus Frederick Grimsby Gorgon, in a blue velvet jacket, sugar-loaf buttons, and nankeens, entered the north door of the ballroom, to much cheering, and the sound of "God save the King!"At that very same moment, and from the south door, issued William Pitt Scully, Esquire, M.P., and his staff.Mr.Scully had a brand-new blue coat and brass buttons, buff waistcoat, white kerseymere tights, pumps with large rosettes, and pink silk stockings.