the paltry consideration of mere appearance,
and made me feel what I have often heard ragged vagabonds in the streets
denominate "the dignity of a man." By degrees, too, I not only grew
reconciled to the gaudy costume, but began--strange accommodation of
feeling--actually to enjoy its distinctive character.

"There are young gentlemen, Con," said I, in soliloquy, "many are there
who would look absurd merry-andrews if dressed in this fashion. There
are fellows to whom this kind of thing would be a sore test! These
bright tints would play the very devil with their complexion,--not to
mention that every one's legs could n't afford such publicity! But Con,
my friend, you have a natural aptitude for every shade of color, and for
every station and condition. Courage, my boy! although in the rear rank
at present, you 'll march in the van yet. Nature has been gracious with
you, Mr. Cregan!" said I, warming with the subject, while, with my hands
deep down in my coat-pockets, I walked backward and forward before
the glass, stealing sidelong glances at myself as I passed; "there are
fellows who, born in your station, would have died in it, without a bit
more influence over their fate in this life than a Poldoody oyster;
they 'd vegetate to the end of existence, and slip out of the world as
a fellow shirks out of a shebeen-house when he has n't tu' pence for
another 'dandy' of punch. Not so with you, Con Cregan! You have
hydrogen in you,--you have the buoyant element that soars above the
vulgar herd. These are not the partial sentiments of a dear friend,
Con, they are the current opinions of the world about you. How soon the
'Captain' saw what stuff you were made of! How long was old Pike in
detecting the latent powers of your intellect?" What a shout of laughter
followed these words! It came from half-a-dozen officers, who, having
entered the room during my apostrophe, had concealed themselves behind a
screen to listen to the peroration.

[Illustration: 204]

They now rushed out in a body, and, throwing themselves into chairs and
upon sofas, laughed till the very room rang with the clamor, the captain
himself joining in the emotion with all his heart. As for me, however
self-satisfied but one moment back, I was humbled to the very earth
now; the vauntings by which I had been soothing my vanity were suddenly
turned into scorns and sneers at my self-conceit, and I actually looked
to see if I could not leap out of the window, and