She never paid the sixpence, though she lost, but contented herself by abusing Mary all day, and said I was a poor-spirited sneak for not instantly horsewhipping Mr.P.A pretty joke, indeed! They would have hanged me in those days, as they did the man who shot Mr.Perceval.
And now I should be glad to enlarge upon that experience in genteel life which I obtained through the perseverance of Mrs.Hoggarty; but it must be owned that my opportunities were but few, lasting only for the brief period of six months: and also, genteel society has been fully described already by various authors of novels, whose names need not here be set down, but who, being themselves connected with the aristocracy, viz., as members of noble families, or as footmen or hangers-on thereof, naturally understand their subject a great deal better than a poor young fellow from a fire-office can.
There was our celebrated adventure in the Opera House, whither Mrs.H.
would insist upon conducting us; and where, in a room of the establishment called the crush-room, where the ladies and gents after the music and dancing await the arrival of their carriages (a pretty figure did our little Solomon cut, by the way, with his big cane, among the gentlemen of the shoulder-knot assembled in the lobby!)--where, I say, in the crush-room, Mrs.H.rushed up to old Lady Drum, whom I pointed out to her, and insisted upon claiming relationship with her Ladyship.

But my Lady Drum had only a memory when she chose, as I may say, and had entirely on this occasion thought fit to forget her connection with the Titmarshes and Hoggarties.

Far from recognising us, indeed, she called Mrs.Hoggarty an "ojus 'oman," and screamed out as loud as possible for a police-officer.
This and other rebuffs made my aunt perceive the vanities of this wicked world, as she said, and threw her more and more into really serious society.

She formed several very valuable acquaintances, she said, at the Independent Chapel; and among others, lighted upon her friend of the Rookery, Mr.Grimes Wapshot.

We did not know then the interview which he had had with Mr.Smithers, nor did Grimes think proper to acquaint us with the particulars of it; but though I did acquaint Mrs.H.with the fact that her favourite preacher had been tried for forgery, _she_ replied that she considered the story an atrocious calumny; and _he_ answered by saying that Mary and I were in lamentable darkness, and that we should infallibly find the way to a certain bottomless pit, of which he seemed to know a great deal.