There were, withinsight, an auctioneer's and fire-agency office, a corn-factor's,a linen-draper's, a saddler's, a distiller's, a grocer's, and ashoe-shop--the last-mentioned warehouse being also appropriated tothe diffusion of hats, bonnets, wearing apparel, cotton umbrellas,and useful knowledge.
( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) It was the old lady's habit on the fine summer mornings to repair to thearbour in which Mr. Tupman had already signalised himself, in form andmanner following: first, the fat boy fetched from a peg behind the oldlady's bedroom door, a close black satin bonnet, a warm cotton shawl,and a thick stick with a capacious handle; and the old lady, having puton the bonnet and shawl at her leisure, would lean one hand on thestick and the other on the fat boy's shoulder, and walk leisurely to thearbour, where the fat boy would leave her to enjoy the fresh air for thespace of half an hour; at the expiration of which time he would returnand reconduct her to the house.
Hisfirst act was to bolt the door on the inside; his second, to polishhis head and countenance very carefully with a cotton handkerchief;his third, to place his hat, with the cotton handkerchief in it, on thenearest chair; and his fourth, to produce from the breast-pocket ofhis coat a short truncheon, surmounted by a brazen crown, with which hebeckoned to Mr. Pickwick with a grave and ghost-like air.
He worevery short trousers, and black cotton stockings, which, like the rest ofhis apparel, were particularly rusty.
( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) On the floor of the room, a man in a broad-skirted green coat, withcorduroy knee-smalls and gray cotton stockings, was performing the mostpopular steps of a hornpipe, with a slang and burlesque caricature ofgrace and lightness, which, combined with the very appropriate characterof his costume, was inexpressibly absurd.