"Mr. Richmond! He's a minister."
"Well! Other people ought to be as good as ministers."
"They can't," said Norton. "Besides—Mr. Richmond is all very well; he's a brick; but then he is not a fashionable man, and he don't know the world."
"Are ministers ever fashionable men?" said Matilda, opening her eyes a little.
"Certainly. Why not. Dr. Blandford likes a good glass of wine as well as any one, and knows how to drink it. He likes a good dinner too."
"What do you mean, Norton? Anybody knows how to drink a glass of wine."
"Everybody don't know how to drink half a dozen glasses, though," said Norton. "A wine may be out of place; and it is not good out of place."
"You take it at dinner," said Matilda.
"Yes, but different wines at different times of the dinner," said Norton. "Everything in its place, as much as everything in its own glass, and much more. For instance, you take light wines with the soup; Hock, or Sauterne, or grandmamma's favorite Greek wine. Then champagne with the dinner. Port goes with the cheese. Then claret is good with the fruit; and sherry and madeira with the dessert, or any time. And Dr. Blandford likes a bowl of whiskey punch to finish off with."
"Is he your minister?"