“ When a man rides an amiable hobby that shies at nothing and kicks nobody, it is only agreeable to find him riding it with a humorous sense of the droll side of the creature. When the man is a cordial and an earnest man by nature, and withal is perfectly fresh and genuine, it may be doubted whether he is ever seen to greater advantage than at such a time. ”
Charles Dickens, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | The Mystery of Edwin Drood |
| Topic | doubt time |
| Date | 1870 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/564/564-h/564-h.htm |
Context
“Tartar had only clapped to his lips the speaking-trumpet that was slung in a corner, and given hoarse orders to heave the anchor up, look alive there, men, and get all sail upon her!
Mr. Tartar doing the honours of this gallant craft was of a piece with the rest. When a man rides an amiable hobby that shies at nothing and kicks nobody, it is only agreeable to find him riding it with a humorous sense of the droll side of the creature. When the man is a cordial and an earnest man by nature, and withal is perfectly fresh and genuine, it may be doubted whether he is ever seen to greater advantage than at such a time. So Rosa would have naturally thought (even if she hadn’t been conducted over the ship with all the homage due to the First Lady of the Admiralty, or First Fairy of the Sea) , that it was charming to see and hear Mr.”
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