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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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285 For a gentleman who was rejoiced to see a body of visitors, Mr Gregsbury looked as uncomfortable as might be; but perhaps this was occasioned by senatorial gravity, and a statesmanlike habit of keeping his feelings under control. He was a tough, burly, thick- headed gentleman, with a loud voice, a pompous manner, a tolerable command of sentences with no meaning in them, and, in short, every requisite for a very good member indeed. ‘Now, gentlemen,’ said Mr Gregsbury, tossing a great bundle of papers into a wicker basket at his feet, and throwing himself back in his chair with his arms over the elbows, ‘you are dissatisfied with my conduct, I see by the newspapers.’ ‘Yes, Mr Gregsbury, we are,’ said a plump old gentleman in a violent heat, bursting out of the throng, and planting himself in the front. ‘Do my eyes deceive me,’ said Mr Gregsbury, looking towards the speaker, ‘or is that my old friend Pugstyles?’ ‘I am that man, and no other, sir,’ replied the plump old gentleman. ‘Give me your hand, my worthy friend,’ said Mr Gregsbury. ‘Pugstyles, my dear friend, I am very sorry to see you here.’ ‘I am very sorry to be here, sir,’ said Mr Pugstyles; ‘but your conduct, Mr Gregsbury, has rendered this deputation from your constituents imperatively necessary.’ ‘My conduct, Pugstyles,’ said Mr Gregsbury, looking round upon the deputation with gracious magnanimity--’ my conduct has been, and ever will be, regulated by a sincere regard for the true and real interests of this great and happy country. Whether I look at home, or abroad; whether I behold the peaceful industrious communities of our island home: her rivers covered with |
