'
Mr. Spraggon then asked Mr. Pacey to take champagne, as the commencement of
a better understanding.
The wine flowed freely, and the guests, particularly the fresh infusion,
did ample justice to it. The guests of the day before, having indulged
somewhat freely, were more moderate at first, though they seemed well
inclined to do their best after they got their stomachs a little restored.
Spraggon could drink any given quantity at any time.
The conversation got brisker and brisker: and before the cloth was drawn
there was a very general clamour, in which all sorts of subjects seemed to
be mixed--each man addressing himself to his immediate neighbour; one
talking of taxes--another of tares--a third, of hunting and the system of
kennel--a fourth, of the corn-laws--old Blossomnose, about tithes--Slapp,
about timber and water-jumping--Miller, about Collison's pills; and Guano,
about anything that he could get a word edged in about. Great, indeed, was
the hubbub. Gradually, however, as the evening advanced Pacey and Guano
out-talked the rest, and at length Pacey got the noise pretty well to
himself.
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