216 / 248
2i6
the flowing bowl
took the form of champagne ; and the merits of
a sherry cobbler are fully recognized by Martin,
who subsequently, however, fared badly in the
way of wines and spirits whilst in the States,
Eden, that alleged "prosperous city," appears to
have possessed neither pawn-shop, place of
worship, nor drinking-bar ; and the comparative
delights of the " Dragon " on the return of Mark
and Martin to Wiltshire are made delightfully
apparent. As for the bad characters. Chevy
Slyme loafed in a chronic state of eleemosynary
drink, until he joined the police force, whilst
Montague Tigg fared sumptuously on the best
of liquor—including old Maderia—until knocked
on the head by the villain Jonas, who also appears
to have been a bit of a soaker, when he could
get his drink for nothing.
Mrs. Gamp's wants were few and simple, but
she insisted upon a regular supply, and got it.
Leaving solid sustenance out, she stipulated for
"a pint ofmild porter at lunch, a pint at dinner,
half a pint as a species of stay or holdfast between
dinner and tea, and a pint of the celebrated
staggering ale, or Real Old Brighton Tipper, at
supper ; b^esides the bottle on the chimney-piece,
and such casual invitations to refresh herself with
wine as the good breeding of her employers
might prompt them to offer." And she never
exceeded the allowance of a shillingsworth of
gin-and-water warm when she rang the bell a
second time after supper. She must have cost
as much to keep as a steam-yacht. The contents
of Mrs. G.'s teapot, on the occasion of her
historic quarrel with Betsy Prig, are alluded to.