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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 most exquisite taste; and adornment
refined with perfect harmony and the chastest good keeping -
compared with which, the fabled gorgeousness of Eastern fairyland
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 made
by the virtuous and highly distinguished lady at whose shrine this
humble tribute of admiration was offered.' This last was a piece of
biting sarcasm against the INDEPENDENT, who, in consequence of
not having been invited at all, had been, through four numbers,
affecting to sneer at the whole affair, in his very largest type, with all
the adjectives in capital letters.
The morning came: it was a pleasant sight to behold Mr Tupman in
full brigand's costume, with a very tight jacket, sitting like a
pincushion over his back and shoulders, the upper portion of his legs
incased in the velvet shorts, and the lower part thereof swathed in the
complicated bandages to which all brigands are peculiarly attached. It
was pleasing to see his open and ingenuous countenance, well
mustachioed and corked, looking out from an open shirt collar; and to
contemplate the sugar-loaf hat, decorated with ribbons of all colours,
which he was compelled to carry on his knee, inasmuch as no known
conveyance with a top to it, would admit of any man's carrying it
between his head and the roof. Equally humorous and agreeable was
the appearance of Mr Snodgrass in blue satin trunks and cloak, white
silk tights and shoes, and Grecian helmet, which everybody knows
(
and if they do not, Mr Solomon Lucas did) to have been the regular,
authentic, everyday costume of a troubadour, from the earliest ages
down to the time of their final disappearance from the face of the
earth. All this was pleasant, but this was as nothing compared with
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