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sundry contortions of countenance； imitative of the clown in one of the
new pantomimes； which were so extremely successful； that one stout
gentleman rolled upon an ottoman in a paroxysm of delight； protesting；
with many gasps； that if somebody didn't make that fellow Griggins leave
off； he would be the death of him； he knew。 At this the company only
laughed more boisterously than before； and as we always like to
accommodate our tone and spirit if possible to the humour of any society
in which we find ourself； we laughed with the rest； and exclaimed； 'Oh！
capital； capital！' as loud as any of them。
When he had quite exhausted all beholders； Mr。 Griggins received the
welcomes and congratulations of the circle； and went through the needful
introductions with much ease and many puns。 This ceremony over； he
avowed his intention of sitting in somebody's lap unless the young ladies
made room for him on the sofa； which being done； after a great deal of
tittering and pleasantry； he squeezed himself among them； and likened his
condition to that of love among the roses。 At this novel jest we all roared
once more。 'You should consider yourself highly honoured； sir；' said we。
'Sir；' replied Mr。 Griggins； 'you do me proud。' Here everybody laughed
again； and the stout gentleman by the fire whispered in our ear that
Griggins was making a dead set at us。
The tea…things having been removed； we all sat down to a round game；
and here Mr。 Griggins shone forth with peculiar brilliancy； abstracting
other people's fish； and looking over their hands in the most comical
manner。 He made one most excellent joke in snuffing a candle； which
was neither more nor less than setting fire to the hair of a pale young
gentleman who sat next him； and afterwards begging his pardon with
considerable humour。 As the young gentleman could not see the joke
however； possibly in consequence of its being on the top of his own head；
it did not go off quite as well as it might have done； indeed； the young
gentleman was heard to murmur some general references to 'impertinence；'
and a 'rascal；' and to state the number of his lodgings in an angry tone … a
turn of the conversation which might have been productive of slaughterous
consequences； if a young lady； betrothed to the young gentleman； had not
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used her immediate influence to bring about a reconciliation：
emphatically declaring in an agitated whisper； intended for his peculiar
edification but audible to the whole table； that if he went on in that way；
she never would think of him otherwise than as a friend； though as that she
must always regard him。 At this terrible threat the young gentleman
became calm； and the young lady； overcome by the revulsion of feeling；
instantaneously fainted。
Mr。 Griggins's spirits were slightly depressed for a short period by this
unlooked…for result of such a harmless pleasantry； but being promptly
elevated by the attentions of the host and several glasses of wine； he soon
recovered； and became even more vivacious than before； insomuch that
the stout gentleman previously referred to； assured us that although he had
known him since he was THAT high （something smaller than a nutmeg…
grater）； he had never beheld him in such excellent cue。
When the round game and several games at blind man's buff which
followed it were all over； and we were going down to supper； the
inexhaustible Mr。 Griggins produced a small sprig of mistletoe from his
waistcoat pocket； and commenced a general kissing of the assembled
females； which occasioned great commotion and much excitement。 We
observed that several young gentlemen … including the young gentleman
with the pale countenance … were greatly scandalised at this indecorous
proceeding； and talked very big among themselves in corners； and we
observed too； that several young ladies when remonstrated with by the
aforesaid young gentlemen； called each other to witness how they had
struggled； and protested vehemently that it was very rude； and that they
were surprised at Mrs。 Brown's allowing it； and that they couldn't bear it；
and had no patience with such impertinence。 But such is the gentle and
forgiving nature of woman； that although we looked very narrowly for it；
we could not detect the slightest harshness in the subsequent treatment of
Mr。 Griggins。 Indeed； upon the whole； it struck us that among the ladies
he seemed rather more popular than before！
To recount all the drollery of Mr。 Griggins at supper； would fill such a
tiny volume as this； to the very bottom of the outside cover。 How he
drank out of other people's glasses； and ate of other people's bread； how he
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frightened into screaming convulsions a little boy who was sitting up to
supper in a high chair； by sinking below the table and suddenly
reappearing with a mask on； how the hostess was really surprised that
anybody could find a pleasure in tormenting children； and how the host
frowned at the hostess； and felt convinced that Mr。 Griggins had done it
with the very best intentions； how Mr。 Griggins explained； and how
everybody's good…humour was restored but the child's； … to tell these and a
hundred other things ever so briefly； would occupy more of our room and
our readers' patience； than either they or we can conveniently spare。
Therefore we change the subject； merely observing that we have offered
no description of the funny young gentleman's personal appearance；
believing that almost every society has a Griggins of its own； and leaving
all readers to supply the deficiency； according to the particular
circumstances of their particular case。
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THE THEATRICAL Y