offered his arm, which was accepted.

There was a crowd and crush upon the stairs, fine gentlemen and
ladies seeming to forget their courtesy and good breeding in their
haste to be among the earliest who should reach the banqueting-hall.
This was long and spacious, having been planned by Mr. Birtwell with
a view to grand entertainments like the one he was now giving. In an
almost incredibly short space of time it was filled to suffocation.
Those who thought themselves among the first to move were surprised
to find the tables already surrounded by young men and women, who
had been more interested in the status of the supper-room than in
the social enjoyments of the parlors, and who had improved their
advanced state of observation by securing precedence of the rest,
and stood waiting for the signal to begin.

Mr. Birtwell had a high respect for the Church, and on an occasion
like this could do no less than honor one of its dignitaries by
requesting him to ask a blessing on the sumptuous repast he had
provided--on the rich food and the good wine and brandy he was about
dispensing with such a liberal hand. So, in the waiting pause that
ensued after the room was well filled, Mr. Elliott was called upon
to bless this feast, which he did in a raised, impressive and finely
modulated voice. Then came the rattle of plates and the clink of
glasses, followed by the popping of champagne and the multitudinous
and distracting Babel of tongues.

Mr. Ridley, who felt much inclined to favor the superficial and
ill-advised utterances of Mr. Elliott, took scarcely any heed of
what Dr. Hillhouse had replied. In fact, knowing that the doctor was
free with wine himself, he did not give much weight to what he said,