The struggle was not over yet, however. Witness that little encounter before dinner; and once or twice the honest fellow replied rather smartly during the repast, taking especial care to atone as much as possible for his wife's inattention to Jack and Mrs. Muchit, by particular attention to those personages, whom he helped to everything round about and pressed perpetually to champagne; he drank but little himself, for his amiable wife's eye was constantly fixed on him. Just at the conclusion of the dessert, madame, who had bouded Berry during dinner-time, became particularly gracious to her lord and master, and tenderly asked me if I did not think the French custom was a good one, of men leaving table with the ladies. “Upon my word, ma'am,” says I, “I think it's a most abominable practice.” “And so do I,” says Cutler. “A most abominable practice! Do you hear THAT?” cries Berry, laughing, and filling his glass. “I'm sure, Frank, when we are alone you always come to the drawing-room,” replies the lady, sharply. “Oh, yes! when we're alone, darling,” says Berry, blushing; “but now we're NOT alone--ha, ha! Anatole, du Bordeaux!” “I'm sure they sat after the ladies at Carlton House; didn't they, Lady Pash?” says Dobus, who likes his glass. “THAT they did!” says my Lady, giving him a jolly nod. “I racklackt,” exclaims Captain Goff, “when I was in the Mauritius, that Mestress MacWhirter, who commanded the Saxty-Sackond, used to say, 'Mac, if ye want to get lively, ye'll not stop for more than two hours after the leddies have laft ye: if ye want to get drunk, ye'll just dine at the mass.' So ye see, Mestress Barry, what was Mac's allowance--haw, haw! Mester Whey, I'll trouble ye for the o-lives.” But although we were in a clear majority, that indomitable woman, Mrs. Berry, determined to make us all as uneasy as possible, and would take the votes all round. Poor Jack, of course, sided with her, and Whey said he loved a cup of tea and a little music better than all the wine of Bordeaux. As for the Frenchman, when Mrs. Berry said, “And what do you think, M. le Vicomte?” “Vat you speak?” said M. de Blagueval, breaking silence for the first time during two hours. “Yase--eh? to me you speak?” “Apry deeny, aimy-voo ally avec les dam?” “Comment avec les dames?” “Ally avec les dam com a Parry, ou resty avec les Messew com on Onglyterre?” “Ah, madame! vous me le demandez?” cries the little wretch, starting up in a theatrical way, and putting out his hand, which Mrs. Berry took, and with this the ladies left the room. Old Lady Pash trotted after her niece with her hand in Whey's, very much wondering at such practices, which were not in the least in vogue in the reign of George III. Mrs. Berry cast a glance of triumph at her husband, at the defection; and Berry was evidently annoyed that three-eighths of his male forces had left him.