Or was it gas?

[Doug Millison]

I don't know the Bette Davis film that Mike Weaver refers to, with possible
Pynchonian resonance ("Or was it gas?"  sez Bette, is the possible quote MW
mentioned), but Charles Dickens exploits a similar gastrointestinal
ambiguity to humorous effect in _Our Mutual Friend_. At the dinner party
celebrating Veneering's election as Member of Parliament, Mrs. Veneering
relates the story of how her Baby seemed to signal the victory the evening
before it happened:

    'You will all think it foolish of me, I know, but I must mention it. As
I sat by Baby's crib on the night before the election, Baby was very uneasy
in her sleep.'
    The Analytical chemist, who is gloomily looking on, has diabolical
impulses to suggest 'Wind' and throw up his situation; but represses them.
    'After an interval almost convulsive, Baby curled her little hands in
one another and smiled.'
    Mrs. Veneering stopping here. Mr. Podsnap deems it incumbent on him to
say:  'I wonder why!'
    'Could it be, I asked myself,' says Mrs. Veneering, looking about her
for her pocket-handkerchief, 'that the Fairies were telling Baby that her
papa would shortly be an M.P.?'
--_Our Mutual Friend_, Book Two, Chapter III, "A Piece of Work"



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