He carried his head proudly
on high, determined to be dignified in spite of his misfortunes, and
advanced two steps into the room without a remark, as though he were
able to show that neither red plush nor black cloth could disarrange
the equal poise of his mighty mind!
And after all what are a man's garments but the outward husks in
which the fruit is kept, duly tempered from the wind?
"The rank is but the guinea stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that."
And is not the tailor's art as little worthy, as insignificant as
that of the king who makes
"A marquis, duke, and a' that"?
Who would be content to think that his manly dignity depended on his
coat and waistcoat, or his hold on the world's esteem on any other
garment of usual wear? That no such weakness soiled his mind Mr.
Horne was determined to prove; and thus he entered the room with
measured tread, and stern dignified demeanour.
Having advanced two steps his eye caught mine. I do not know
whether he was moved by some unconscious smile on my part;--for in
truth I endeavoured to seem as indifferent as himself to the nature
of his dress;--or whether he was invincibly tickled by some inward
fancy of his own, but suddenly his advancing step ceased, a broad
flash of comic humour spread itself over his features, he retreated
with his back against the wall, and then burst out into an
immoderate roar of loud laughter.
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