sort of fascination, he later seemed
almost impelled to refer to them. Thus, in Copperfield, we find him
describing, but under a disguise, the same incident. As when he was sent
to Murdstone and Grimby's warehouse, it was still the washing and
labelling of bottles--"_not of blacking_," but of wines and spirits.
"When the empty bottles ran short, there were labels to be pasted on the
full ones, or corks to be fitted to them, &c." But there is also another
allusion to the same, but curiously veiled, when he speaks of the carman,
Tipp, who "wore a red jacket." Now, to this day Day and Martin's carmen
wear red jackets, and Warren's men probably did so; but, at all events,
it is clearly an allusion to the costume of the blacking drivers. There
are allusions to blacking in Little Dorrit and Bleak House.

CHAPTER V. SINGLE SPEECH TRUNDLE

This gentleman, as we know, was the affianced husband of Isabella Wardle,
and to the scenes of their marriage, the festivities, &c., we owe some
pleasing incidents. Trundle was a good specimen of the _cypher_ or
nullity; naturally, he is a figure at Manor Farm, but does nothing, and
practically says nothing. He was clearly a neighbouring squire of
limited ideas, or plain country gentlemen, that could do no more than
love his Isabella. Yet, while Boz describes the "affairs" of Arabella
and Winkle, of Emily and Snodgrass, he wholly passes by Trundle and his
_inamorata_. We can see what manner of man Trundle was, as he is shown
seated in the barouche, at the review, between the two sisters, each with
long ringlets and parasols. He is a good-looking young man, with mutton-
chop whiskers and black hair, on which his hat is set jauntily. He is
described as "a young gentleman apparently enamoured of one of the young
ladies in scarfs and pattens." Wardle introduced him in a rather
patronising way. "This is my friend, Mr. Trundle." When the firing
began, there was much agitation among the young ladies, screaming, &c.,
so that the gentlemen had to support them: Mr. Trundle "was actually
obliged to hold one of them up." But after the lunch was unpacked, the
wine uncorked, &c., there came a remarkable development--Trundle actually
spoke, made the one single remark that is recorded of him in the whole
chronicle! Never before or after did he say a word. He was, in fact,
"single speech Trundle." And what were these words: "Will you permit me
to have the pleasure, Sir?" said Mr. T