When the round game and several games at blind man's buff which
followed it were all over, and we were going down to supper, the
inexhaustible Mr. Griggins produced a small sprig of mistletoe from
his waistcoat pocket, and commenced a general kissing of the
assembled females, which occasioned great commotion and much
excitement. We observed that several young gentlemen-including the
young gentleman with the pale countenance-were greatly scandalised
at this indecorous proceeding, and talked very big among themselves
in corners; and we observed too, that several young ladies when
remonstrated with by the aforesaid young gentlemen, called each
other to witness how they had struggled, and protested vehemently
that it was very rude, and that they were surprised at Mrs. Brown's
allowing it, and that they couldn't bear it, and had no patience
with such impertinence. But such is the gentle and forgiving
nature of woman, that although we looked very narrowly for it, we
could not detect the slightest harshness in the subsequent
treatment of Mr. Griggins. Indeed, upon the whole, it struck us
that among the ladies he seemed rather more popular than before!
To recount all the drollery of Mr. Griggins at supper, would fill
such a tiny volume as this, to the very bottom of the outside
cover. How he drank out of other people's glasses, and ate of
other people's bread, how he frightened into screaming convulsions
a little boy who was sitting up to supper in a high chair, by
sinking below the table and suddenly reappearing with a mask on;
how the hostess was really surprised that anybody could find a
pleasure in tormenting children, and how the host frowned at the
hostess, and felt convinced that Mr.
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