Grundy took the paper, and beheld his own mellifluous name; but his pleasure manifested itself in a different manner from mine; he “grinned horribly a ghastly smile.”
“As you are so fond of dancing,” said Marpeet, “what say you to joining a hop to-morrow evening?”
“With all my heart,” said I; “always ready for a ‘trip on the fantastic toe;’ but who is your friend?”
“Why,” rejoined the captain, “I have a ‘provoke’ here from the mistress of the Kidderpore establishment for the orphan daughters of officers (where, by the way, I expect my young Mogulanee will figure some of these days), to attend a dance to-morrow; they have a ball there once a fortnight (I believe), to show off the girls, and give them an opportunity of getting spliced.”
“That’s a new feature of schools; in England, if I remember rightly, the efforts of the mistresses tend all the other way—to keep the girls from getting married.”
“That,” said Marpeet, “would never do in India, where women are thinking of getting buried about the age at which they talk of being married in lat. 50° N. Yes, this is the place for the man who wants a wife, and wishes to be met half-way, detesting, like me, the toil of wooing. There he can go, and if he sees a girl he likes, good fore-hand, clean about the fetlock-joints, free in her paces, sound and quiet, and not too long in the tooth, if not bespoke, he’ll not find much difficulty in getting her. But if you and Grundy will go, I’ll get you smuggled in somehow or other, and will call for you in proper time to-morrow.”
“Thank you,” said I; “never fear for me, for I’m all anxiety to see these young ladies of the equestrian order, whom you so pleasantly describe. Besides, old Stultz, here in the corner, has just finished my red coat, and I am all anxiety to sport it for the first time.”
“Well, good-bye, lads,” said the captain; “I’m off to Tulloh’s auction, to see if I can’t pick up a cheap buggy, and a few other things I want.”
So saying, he disappeared, leaving Grundy and me to ruminate on the foregoing matters.
“Grundy,” said I, after a pause, “you must really get a red coat, sword, and sash, and make yourself look like a Christian, if you go to this ball to-morrow night; excuse my giving you a hint.”