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

THEIR 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!' ejaculated Mrs. Leo Hunter.

'No other, ma'am,' replied Mr Pickwick, bowing very low. 'Permit me to

introduce my friends - Mr Tupman - Mr Winkle - Mr Snodgrass - to

the authoress of ‘The Expiring Frog.’' 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.'

'You are very kind, ma'am,' said Mr Pickwick.

In the first place, here are my little girls; I had almost forgotten them,'

said Minerva, carelessly pointing towards a couple of full-grown young

ladies, of whom one might be about twenty, and the other a year or

two older, and who were dressed in very juvenile costumes - whether

to make them look young, or their mamma younger, Mr Pickwick does

not distinctly inform us.

The Pickwick Papers