But, bless you! he was never taken aback, and the gentlefolks was glad enough to get him to sit down amongst 'em.

So, says Mr.George, "I know you're a fire-eater, Marquis," and his dander was up, for he began marquising Mel, and doing the mock polite at such a rate, that, by-and-by, one of the ladies who didn't know Mel called him "my lord" and "his lordship." "And," says Mel, "I merely bowed to her, and took no notice." So that passed off: and there sits Mel telling his anecdotes, as grand as a king.

And, by and-by, young Mr.George, who hadn't forgiven Mel, and had been pulling at the bottle pretty well, he sings out, "It 's Michaelmas! the death of the goose! and I should like to drink the Marquis's health!" and he drank it solemn.

But, as far as I can make out, the women part of the company was a little in the dark.

So Mel waited till there was a sort of a pause, and then speaks rather loud to the Admiral, "By the way, Sir Jackson, may I ask you, has the title of Marquis anything to do with tailoring ?" Now Mel was a great favourite with the Admiral, and with his lady, too, they say--and the Admiral played into his hands, you see, and, says he, "I 'm not aware that it has, Mr.
Harrington." And he begged for to know why he asked the question--called him, "Mister," you understand.