Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

we PICKWICK ABROAD. . its company. As for Mr. Winkle, he was taken for an imitator of the keeper of a menagerie of wild beasts, whose skins he converted to his own personal use at their deaths; and so he escaped any particular notice. We said the! spacious hall was crowded with a variety of characters. There were kings enough to govern all the nations of Europe, and two or three to spare; and there were queens sufficient to drive the aforesaid kings, including, even those to spare, out of thew regal senses. There were Generals in quantities great enough to rm an army by themselves ; and Turks so merous that all good Christians, if any were present, must have been put to the blush. Then there was a Columbine—a character which in England is usually per- sonated by a slim young lady, who, after dancing a season or two at the Opera, mar- ries a nobleman; and there was also a Har- lequin to keep her company. Then a. mother and her two daughters represented the Three Graces; and a bevy of boarding- school girls fulfilled the parts of the Nine Muses in another part of the room. There were at least a omen Bonapartes—three Pompeys—two Julius Casars—four Cleo- atras—and half a score of Jews—Several individuals, doubtless under the fear of being improperly conspicuous, had assumed such non-descript dresses that their wearers might as well have passed themselves for decayed gentlemen of the sixteenth century as for heroes of any other; and not a few had made slight but venial mistakes in the characters they did assume. Such was the case with an Englishman who was person- ating Othello through the medium of a black face and a pair of tops and cords; and with a Scotchman who carried a mus- ket over his shoulder as Sir William Wal- lace. Oue of the Julius Caesars wore a watch and seals, and a Cleopatra a pair of diamond ear-rings: a Pompey had a ring with a crest on his finger ; and a Bonaparte ran out of the room and retired very rapidly ‘to his own lodgings, when he became en- gaged in a dispute with one of his own mar- shals, who threatened to pull his imperial nose in the presence of the whole company. For some time the Pickwickians kept together, because the several masks that at first accosted them spoke in French, and were unable to receive any intelligible re- plies. But at length a lady who was at- tired as Diana, (some mistook her for a Turkish lady on account of the crescent which she wore upon her forehead,) entered into conversation with Mr, Tupman, as did another, who had assumed the character of a Lovely Savage, with Mr. Pickwick. Mes- sieurs Snodgrass and Winkle were there- fore separated from their companions, and cast for amusement upon the resources of each other. “How exceedingly amusing,” said Mr. Winkle, who had just run the point of his javelin about a quarter of an inch into his shoulder. “Very,” returned Mr. Snodgrass, his arms aching to distraction on account of the pos- ture in which he was obliged to hold them. “So gay,” added Mz. Winkle, wishing in his own mind that there were only a few more English people present, or that he knew how to distinguish those who were. “T never was so much delighted in all my life,” rejoined Mr. Snodgrass. At this moment Pegasus and Nimrod were accosted by a Gipsy. “ English ?” said the Gipsy, very abrupt: ly, and in a tone of voice evidently feigned Messieurs Winkle and Snodgrass replied in the affirmative. “Don’t know me, spose?” asked the Gipsy. “No. Do you know us?” returned Mr. Winkle. “ Arabella quite well?’ demanded the mask. “That’s a coincidence only,” said Mr. Snodgrass in a whisper to Mr. Winkle. “ Now—my good woman—do you mean to say you know me?” continued Mr. Snod- grass, addressing himself to the Gipsy. “How’s Emily ?” asked the mask. Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Winkle exchang- ed significant glances, the one through his horse’s head, the other through his bearded mask. “Vell, this is rayther too strong, as the alderman’s lady said ven she sipped her iced punch,” cried the Gipsy, with a pleas- ing laugh. “ Blowd if Jack Ketch ud a- knowed me here !” “What, Sam, is that you?” inquired Mr Winkle, sternly. “How did you get here %” “Through the wery common means of a hackney coach and a pair o’ osses, sir,” Was 2) the immediate answer. ; “But for what purpose, Sam, do you in- trude into a room where gentlemen and la- © dies only are admitted?” continued Mr. Winkle. . Ae GOmilGeoooks (CO)