Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/207

153 THE PICKWICK CLUB.

15:3

to fix the sugar-loaf hat on his head, by way of entering the gard.in in style.

The preparations were on the most delightful scale ; fully realising the prophetic Pott's anticipations about the gorgeousness of Eastern Fairy-land, and at once affording a sufficient contradiction to the malignant statements of the reptile Independent. The grounds were more than an acre and a quarter in extent, and they were tilled with people ! Never was such a blaze of beauty, and fashion, and literature. There was the young lady who "did" the poetry in the Eatanswill Gazette, in the garb of a sultana, leaning upon the arm of the young gentleman who " did" the review department, and who was appro- priately habited in a field marshal's uniform — the boots excepted. There were hosts of these geniuses, and any reasonable person would have thought it honour enough to meet them. But more than these, there were half a dozen lions from London — authors, real authors, who had written whole books, and printed them afterwards — and here you might see 'em, walking about, like ordinary men, smiling, and talking — aye, and talking pretty considerable nonsense too, no doubt with the benign intention of rendering themselves intelligible to the common people about them. Moreover, there was a band of music in pasteboard caps ; four something-ean singers in the costume of their country, and a dozen hired waiters in the costume of thei7' country — and very dirty costume too. And above all, there was Mrs. Leo Hunter in the character of Minerva, receiving the company, and overflowing with pride and gratification at the notion of having called such distinguished individuals together.

" Mr. Pickwick, Ma'am," said a servant, as that gentleman approached the presiding goddess, with his hat in his hand, and the Brigand and Troubadour on either arm.

" What — where ! " exclaimed Mrs. Leo Hunter, starting up, in an affected rapture of surprise. " Here," said Mr. Pickwick,

" Is it possible that I have really the gratification of beholding Mr. Pickwick himself I " ejaculated Mrs. Leo Hunter.

mit me to introduce my friends — Mr. Tupman — Mr. Winkle— Mr. Snodgrass — to the authoress of' The Expiring Frog.' "
 * ' No other, Ma'am," replied Mr. Pickwick, bowing very low. '' Per-

Very few people but those who have tried it, know what a difficult process it is, to bow in green velvet smalls, and a tight jacket and high- crowned-hat, or in blue satin trunks and white silks, or knee-cords and top-boots that were never made for the wearer, and have been fixed upon him without the remotest reference to the comparative dimensions of himself and the suit. Never were such distortions as Mr. Tupman's frame underwent in his efforts to appear easy and graceful — never was such ingenious posturing, as his fancy-dressed friends exhibited.

" Mr. Pickwick," said Mrs. Leo Hunter, " I must make you promise not to stir from my side the whole day. There are hundreds of people here, that I must positively introduce you to."