Cummings called, bringing with him his friend Merton, who is the wine trade, Gowing also called Mr. Merton made himself at home at once, and Carrie and I were both struck with him immediately, and thoroughly approved of his sentiments.
He leaned back in his chair and said:" you must take me as I am;" and I replied;" Yes-and you must take us as we are. We're homely people, we are not swells."
He answered:" No, I can see that," and Gowing roared with laughter; but Merton in a most gentlemanly manner said to Gowing:" I don't think you quite understand me. I intended to convey that our charming host and hostess were superior to the follies of fashion, and preferred leading a simple and wholesome life to gadding about to twopenny-halfpenny tea-drinking afternoons, and living above their incomes."
I was immensely pleased with these sensible remarks of Merton's, and concluded that subject by saying:" No, candidly, Mr. Merton, we don't go into Society, because we do not care for it; and what with the expense of cabs here and cabs there, and white gloves and white ties, ets., it doesn't seem worth the money."
Merton said in reference to FRIENDS: "My motton is 'Few and True'; and ,by the way, I also apply that to wine, 'Little and Good.'" Gowing said:" Yes, and sometimes 'cheap and tasty', eh, old man?" Merton, still continuing, said he should treat as a friend, and put me down for a dozen of his "Lockanbar" whisky, and as I was an old friend of Gowing, I should have it for 36s., which was considerably under what he paid for it.
He booked his own order, and further said that at any time I wanted any passes for the theatre I was to let him know, as his name stood good for any theatre in London.
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