The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. 269 entire conversation altogether. But what appeared most remarkable to the assembled Luminaries, and especially the ladies, was that while every body treated the supposed Lord Noodleton with the utmost deference and respect, Mr. Smith scarcely noticed him, nor did the words ‘‘ my lord” issue from that gentleman’s lips the whole evening. The tailor seemed to feel the neglect with which he was treated in that quarter, and now made up his mind that it arose from the stranger having overheard enough of the morning’s conversation on the pier to be well aware that the “‘ lordship” was an imposture. He accordingly resolved to break up the party as soon as possible; and, calling for the bill of entertainments to be that evening represented at the theatre, he proposed to the Pifpaf family to accompany him thither. _ Mr. Pifpaf preferred sticking to his bottle, and made an excuse. Aramintha declared that nothing would give her greater pleasure than to form one of the party, provided the captain would also join it; and thus it was agreed that Pentonville, ‘‘ his lordship,” and Mr. Smale, should take charge of Mrs. Pifpaf and her three daughters upon the occasion. _ Before the party set off, Captain Pentonville gave certain instructions to his domestic, Tom Gibbins, together with the letter for Mr, Pifpaf, which he had written in the morning, and with the contents whereof the reader is familiar. ‘Tom promised to obey the directions imparted to him; and the ladies being now in readiness, the captain hastened to join the convoy. The theatre was only indifferently well attended, although a favourite comic opera and a vaudeville formed the attractions of the night. Of course the lovers in the opera frequently sang to each other; and as the stage is a miniature picture of real life, this was doubtless all very natural and proper. Then, in the vaudeville, a father did not know his own son, when disguised as a servant, although he talked to him for half an hour; but this circumstance must also appear natural and quite within the bounds of probability, for the reason stated above, Captain Pentonville explained the progress of the representations to his beloved Aramintha; Mr. Smale listened to Sarah’s critique upon the music with the most deferential attention, during the intervals between the acts; and Mr. Buckram sustained a mysterious discourse with Belinda, in low whispers—a circumstance which the captain did not fail to observe. It was about ten o’clock when Mr. Buckram sina Belinda left the | box, for the purpose, as they observed, of proceeding to the refresh- ment-room for afew moments. Captain Pentonville immediately asked Aramintha to accompany him thither also; but the sentimental young comicbooks (E(0)