Page 506 - the-idiot

fellows who exchanged glances and smiled, saying some-
thing to one another in whispers.
It was impossible to avoid noticing them, however, in re-
ality, for they made their presence only too conspicuous by
laughing and talking loudly. It was to be supposed that some
of them were more than half drunk, although they were
well enough dressed, some even particularly well. There
were one or two, however, who were very strange-looking
creatures, with flushed faces and extraordinary clothes;
some were military men; not all were quite young; one or
two were middle-aged gentlemen of decidedly disagreeable
appearance, men who are avoided in society like the plague,
decked out in large gold studs and rings, and magnificently
‘got up,’ generally.
Among our suburban resorts there are some which enjoy
a specially high reputation for respectability and fashion;
but the most careful individual is not absolutely exempt
from the danger of a tile falling suddenly upon his head
from his neighbour’s roof.
Such a tile was about to descend upon the elegant and
decorous public now assembled to hear the music.
In order to pass from the Vauxhall to the band-stand,
the visitor has to descend two or three steps. Just at these
steps the group paused, as though it feared to proceed fur-
ther; but very quickly one of the three ladies, who formed
its apex, stepped forward into the charmed circle, followed
by two members of her suite.
One of these was a middle-aged man of very respectable
appearance, but with the stamp of parvenu upon him, a

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