While the late Mr. Gifford was at Ashburton, he contracted an
acquaintance with a family of that place, consisting of females somewhat
advanced in age. On one occasion he ventured on the perilous exploit of
drinking tea with these elderly ladies. After having swallowed his usual
allowance of tea, he found, in spite of his remonstrances to the
contrary, that his hostess would by no means suffer him to give up, but
persisted in making him drink a most incredible quantity. "At last,"
said Gifford in telling the story, "being really overflooded with tea, I
put down my fourteenth cup, and exclaimed, with an air of resolution, 'I
neither can nor will drink any more.' The hostess then seeing she had
forced more down my throat than I liked, began to apologize, and added,
'but, dear Mr. Gifford, as you didn't put your spoon across your cup, I
supposed your refusals were nothing but good manners.'"
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