Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/205

151 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 151

ing influence of India rubber. His countenance had resumed it« usual benign expression ere he concluded.

" I have been hasty," said Mr. Pickwick, " very hasty. Tupman ; your hand."

The dark shadow passed from Mr. Tupman 's face, as he warmly grasped the hand of his friend.

" 1 have been hasty, too," said he.

will wear the green velvet jacket ? "
 * No, no," interrupted Mr. Pickwick, " the fault was mine. You

" No, no," replied Mr. Tupman.


 * ' To oblige me, you will," resumed Mr. Pickwick.


 * ' Well, well, I will," said Mr. Tupman.

It was accordingly settled that Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass, should all wear fancy dresses. Thus Mr. Pickwick was led by the very warmth of his own good feelings to give his consent to a proceeding from which his better judgment would have recoiled— a more striking illustration of his amiable character could hardly have been conceived, even if the events recorded in these pages had been wholly imaginary.

Mr. Leo Hunter had not exaggerated the resources of Mr. Solomon Lucas. His wardrobe was extensive — very extensive — not strictly classical perhaps, nor quite new, nor did it contain any one garment made precisely after the fashion of any age or time, but every thing was more or less spangled ; and what can be prettier than spangles ? It may be objected that they are not adapted to the daylight, but everybody knows that they would glitter if there were lamps ; and nothing can be clearer than that if people give fancy balls in the day-time, and the dresses do not show quite as well as they would by night, the fault lies solely with the people who give the fancy balls, and is in no wise chargeable on the spangles. Such was the convincing reasoning of Mr. Solomon Lucas ; and influenced by such arguments did Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass, engage to array themselves in costumes which his taste and experience induced him to recommend as admirably suited to the occasion.

A carriage was hired from the Town Arms, for the accommodation of the Pickwickians, and a chariot was ordered from the same repository, for the purpose of conveying Mr. and Mrs. Pott to Mrs. Leo Hunter's grounds, which Mr. Pott, as a delicate acknowledgment of having received an invitation, had already confidently predicted in the Eatanswill Gazette " would present a scene of varied and delicious enchantment — a bewildering coruscation of beauty and talent — ^a lavish and prodigal display of hospitality — above all, a degree of splendour softened by the Jbost exquisite taste ; and adornment refined with perfect harmony and the chastest good-keeping — compared with which, the fabled gorgeous- ness of Eastern Fairy Land itself, would appear to be clothed in as many dark and murky colours, as must be the mind of the splenetic and unmanly being who could presume to taint with the venom of his envy, the preparations making by the virtuous and highly distinguished lady, at whose shrine this humble tribute of admiration was offered." This last