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interest：' all of which denoted and proved that Nicholas Tulrumble
was either mad； or worse； and it puzzled the good people of Mudfog
amazingly。
At length； about the middle of the month of October； Mr。 Tulrumble
and family went up to London； the middle of October being； as Mrs。
Tulrumble informed her acquaintance in Mudfog； the very height of
the fashionable season。
Somehow or other； just about this time； despite the health…
preserving air of Mudfog； the Mayor died。 It was a most
extraordinary circumstance； he had lived in Mudfog for eighty…five
years。 The corporation didn't understand it at all； indeed it was
with great difficulty that one old gentleman； who was a great
stickler for forms； was dissuaded from proposing a vote of censure
on such unaccountable conduct。 Strange as it was； however； die he
did； without taking the slightest notice of the corporation； and
the corporation were imperatively called upon to elect his
successor。 So； they met for the purpose； and being very full of
Nicholas Tulrumble just then； and Nicholas Tulrumble being a very
important man； they elected him； and wrote off to London by the
very next post to acquaint Nicholas Tulrumble with his new
elevation。
Now； it being November time； and Mr。 Nicholas Tulrumble being in
the capital； it fell out that he was present at the Lord Mayor's
show and dinner； at sight of the glory and splendour whereof； he；
Mr。 Tulrumble； was greatly mortified； inasmuch as the reflection
would force itself on his mind； that； had he been born in London
instead of in Mudfog； he might have been a Lord Mayor too； and have
patronized the judges； and been affable to the Lord Chancellor； and
friendly with the Premier； and coldly condescending to the
Secretary to the Treasury； and have dined with a flag behind his
back； and done a great many other acts and deeds which unto Lord
Mayors of London peculiarly appertain。 The more he thought of the
Lord Mayor； the more enviable a personage he seemed。 To be a King
was all very well； but what was the King to the Lord Mayor！ When
the King made a speech； everybody knew it was somebody else's
writing； whereas here was the Lord Mayor； talking away for half an
hour…all out of his own head … amidst the enthusiastic applause of
the whole company； while it was notorious that the King might talk
to his parliament till he was black in the face without getting so
much as a single cheer。 As all these reflections passed through
the mind of Mr。 Nicholas Tulrumble； the Lord Mayor of London
appeared to him the greatest sovereign on the face of the earth；
beating the Emperor of Russia all to nothing； and leaving the Great
Mogul immeasurably behind。
Mr。 Nicholas Tulrumble was pondering over these things； and
inwardly cursing the fate which had pitched his coal…shed in
Mudfog； when the letter of the corporation was put into his hand。
A crimson flush mantled over his face as he read it； for visions of
brightness were already dancing before his imagination。
'My dear；' said Mr。 Tulrumble to his wife； 'they have elected me；
Mayor of Mudfog。'
'Lor…a…mussy！' said Mrs。 Tulrumble： 'why what's become of old
Sniggs？'
'The late Mr。 Sniggs； Mrs。 Tulrumble；' said Mr。 Tulrumble sharply；
for he by no means approved of the notion of unceremoniously
designating a gentleman who filled the high office of Mayor； as
'Old Sniggs；' … 'The late Mr。 Sniggs； Mrs。 Tulrumble； is dead。'
The communication was very unexpected； but Mrs。 Tulrumble only
ejaculated 'Lor…a…mussy！' once again； as if a Mayor were a mere
ordinary Christian； at which Mr。 Tulrumble frowned gloomily。
'What a pity 'tan't in London； ain't it？' said Mrs。 Tulrumble；
after a short pause； 'what a pity 'tan't in London； where you might
have had a show。'
'I MIGHT have a show in Mudfog； if I thought proper； I apprehend；'
said Mr。 Tulrumble mysteriously。
'Lor！ so you might； I declare；' replied Mrs。 Tulrumble。
'And a good one too；' said Mr。 Tulrumble。
'Delightful！' exclaimed Mrs。 Tulrumble。
'One which would rather astonish the ignorant people down there；'
said Mr。 Tulrumble。
'It would kill them with envy；' said Mrs。 Tulrumble。
So it was agreed that his Majesty's lieges in Mudfog should be
astonished with splendour； and slaughtered with envy； and that such
a show should take place as had never been seen in that town； or in
any other town before； … no； not even in London itself。
On the very next day after the receipt of the letter； down came the
tall postilion in a post…chaise； … not upon one of the horses； but
inside … actually inside the chaise； … and； driving up to the very
door of the town…hall； where the corporation were assembled；
delivered a letter； written by the Lord knows who； and signed by
Nicholas Tulrumble； in which Nicholas said； all through four sides
of closely…written； gilt…edged； hot…pressed； Bath post letter
paper； that he responded to the call of his fellow…townsmen with
feelings of heartfelt delight； that he accepted the arduous office
which their confidence had imposed upon him； that they would never
find him shrinking from the discharge of his duty； that he would
endeavour to execute his functions with all that dignity which
their magnitude and importance demanded； and a great deal more to
the same effect。 But even this was not all。 The tall postilion
produced from his right…hand top…boot； a damp copy of that
afternoon's number of the county paper； and there； in large type；
running the whole length of the very first column； was a long
address from Nicholas Tulrumble to the inhabitants of Mudfog； in
which he said that he cheerfully complied with their requisition；
and； in short； as if to prevent any mistake about the matter； told
them over again what a grand fellow he meant to be； in very much
the same terms as those in which he had already told them all about
the matter in his letter。
The corporation stared at one another very hard at all this； and
then looked as if for explanation to the tall postilion； but as the
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tall postilion was intently contemplating the gold tassel on the
top of his yellow cap； and could have afforded no explanation
whatever； even if his thoughts had been entirely disengaged； they
contented themselves with coughing very dubiously； and looking very
grave。 The tall postilion then delivered another letter； in which
Nicholas Tulrumble informed the corporation； that he intended
repairing to the town…hall； in grand state and gorgeous procession；
on the Monday afternoon next ensuing。 At this the corporation
looked still more solemn； but； as the epistle wound up with a
formal invitation to the whole body to dine with the Mayor on that
day； at Mudfog Hall； Mudfog Hill； Mudfog； they began to see the fun
of the thing directly； and sent back their compliments； and they'd
be sure to come。
Now there happened to be