He not only drank--that might have been forgiven--but he drank in tap-rooms with vulgar drinkers; so said his friends, and so said his enemies.

He denied the charge as being made in the plural number, and declared that his only low co-reveller was Roger Scatcherd.

With Roger Scatcherd, at any rate, he associated, and became as democratic as Roger was himself.

Now the Thornes of Ullathorne were of the very highest order of Tory excellence.
Whether or not Mary Scatcherd at once accepted the offer of the respectable tradesman, I cannot say.

After the occurrence of certain events which must here shortly be told, she declared that she never had done so.