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316 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
blockhead for giving up any claims which he might have on General
Baynes, at anyrate I have no doubt his Lordship thought, " This
boy is not likely to come begging money from me !" Hence, when
he drove back to his hotel on the very night after this dinner, and
in the courtyard saw that Philip Firmin, his brother's grandson,
the heart of the old nobleman was smitten with a kindly sentiment,
and he bade Philip to come and see him.
I have described some of Philip's oddities, and amongst these
was a very remarkable change in his appearance, which ensued very
speedily after his ruin. I know that the greater number of storyreaders
are young, and those who are ever so old remember that their
own young days occurred but a very very short while ago. Don't
you remember, most potent, grave, and reverend senior, when you
were a junior, and actually rather pleased with new clothes ? Does
a new coat or a waistcoat cause you any pleasure now ? To a wellconstituted
middle-aged gentleman, I rather trust a smart new suit
causes a sensation of uneasiness—not from the tightness of the fit,
which may be a reason—but from the gloss and splendour. When
my late kind friend, Mrs. ______ , gave me the emerald tabinet waistcoat,
with the gold shamrocks, I wore it once to go to Richmond
to dine with her ; but I buttoned myself so closely in an upper
coat, that I am sure nobody in the omnibus saw what a painted
vest I had on. Gold sprigs and emerald tabinet, what a gorgeous
raiment ! It has formed for ten years the chief ornament of my
wardrobe ; and though I have never dared to wear it since, I always
think with a secret pleasure of possessing that treasure. Do women,
when they are sixty, like handsome and fashionable attire, and a
youthful appearance ? Look at Lady Jezebel's blushing check, her
raven hair, her splendid garments ! But this disquisition may be
carried to too great a length. I want to note a fact which has
occurred not seldom in my experience—that men who have been
great dandies will often and suddenly give up their long-accustomed
splendour of dress, and walk about, most happy and contented, with
the shabbiest of coats and hats. No. The majority of men are
not vain about their dress. For instance, within a very few years,
men used to have pretty feet. See in what a resolute way they
have kicked their pretty boots off almost to a man, and wear great
thick formless comfortable walking boots, of shape scarcely more
graceful than a tub !
When Philip Firmin first came on the town, there were dandies
still; there were dazzling waistcoats of velvet and brocade, and
tall stocks with cataracts of satin; there were pins, studs, neckchains,
I know not what fantastic splendours of youth. His varnished
boots grew upon forests of trees. He had a most resplendent