'Charming women,' said Mr Tupman.

'Wait a minute,' said the stranger, 'fun presently - nobs not come yet -

queer place - dockyard people of upper rank don't know dockyard

people of lower rank - dockyard people of lower rank don't know small

gentry - small gentry don't know tradespeople - commissioner don't

know anybody.'

Who's that little boy with the light hair and pink eyes, in a fancy

dress?'inquired Mr Tupman.

'Hush, pray - pink eyes - fancy dress - little boy - nonsense - ensign

97th - Honourable Wilmot Snipe - great family - Snipes - very.'

'Sir Thomas Clubber, Lady Clubber, and the Misses Clubber!' shouted

the man at the door in a stentorian voice. A great sensation was

created throughout the room by the entrance of a tall gentleman in a

blue coat and bright buttons, a large lady in blue satin, and two

young ladies, on a similar scale, in fashionably- made dresses of the

same hue.

Commissioner - head of the yard - great man - remarkably great

man,' whispered the stranger in Mr Tupman's ear, as the charitable

committee ushered Sir Thomas Clubber and family to the top of the

room. The Honourable Wilmot Snipe, and other distinguished

gentlemen crowded to render homage to the Misses Clubber; and Sir

Thomas Clubber stood bolt upright, and looked majestically over his

black kerchief at the assembled company.

'Mr Smithie, Mrs. Smithie, and the Misses Smithie,' was the next

announcement. 'What's Mr Smithie?' inquired Mr Tracy Tupman.

Something in the yard,' replied the stranger. Mr Smithie bowed

deferentially to Sir Thomas Clubber; and Sir Thomas Clubber

acknowledged the salute with conscious condescension. Lady Clubber

took a telescopic view of Mrs. Smithie and family through her eye-

glass and Mrs. Smithie stared in her turn at Mrs. Somebody-else,

whose husband was not in the dockyard at all.

Colonel Bulder, Mrs. Colonel Bulder, and Miss Bulder,' were the next

arrivals.

Head of the garrison,' said the stranger, in reply to Mr Tupman's

inquiring look.

Miss Bulder was warmly welcomed by the Misses Clubber; the

greeting between Mrs. Colonel Bulder and Lady Clubber was of the

most affectionate description; Colonel Bulder and Sir Thomas Clubber

The Pickwick Papers