“By none but gentlemen, my lady, as I have always heard. However, the equality folks have no more game, as far as I know, than other people. The most they pretend to is to have plenty of butcher’s meat.—What I pretend to, and Nanny too, is to get our bread honestly; and so, my lady, she bade me tell you that she has laid in a new stock, hearing your ladyship was coming, and has lost already by its being September instead of June. Light ginghams for morning wear....” “I thought your wife was a grocer.” “Grocer and draper, my lady. If your ladyship should find the mornings chilly, as they will be soon, perhaps you would look at her stuffs;—a very pretty variety of browns, as you will see, my lady. And her tea and sugar is of the best; and as for her snuffs....” “O, I must make acquaintance with her snuffs, of course. Have you a pinch about you?” “And what is your occupation now, White?” inquired lord F——. “The last thing I had to do, my lord, was lining your lordship’s pew at church, and covering the hassocks.” “And what did your priest say to that?” “Lord, sir, I cleared scores with the priest long ago; ever since I was employed to white-wash the Baptist chapel.” “Were you once a Catholic?” inquired Letitia. “Yes, my lady. There was carving work to do at Sir William’s chapel, and I got a good long job.” “And were a Catholic while it lasted, and a Baptist after white-washing the meeting-house?” “To be sure, my lady; I took a part in the week-day meetings after that.” “Till you were employed to line my pew; and now, I dare say, you are a very good churchman?” “I hope to be so, my lord. Your lordship may laugh, but I know what manners is. I wouldn’t be so unhandsome as to take work at one place, and attend at another.” “So your interest has nothing at all to do with it, White; only manners. But I wonder now what you think your religion is worth, if you can change and change again as you have done?” “Why, my lord, I think religion is a very good thing, as long as it does not come in one’s way: but one must make sacrifices to duty, as all the clergy tell us; and is it not my duty to get my living the best way I can?” “Well, White; tell your wife I will step down to see her stock, some day soon. I do not at present take snuff; but whenever I do, I will be her customer.”