Your profusionmakes me saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart willbe as light as a feather.
But at last your unclewas forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to hisniece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it,which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letterthis morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanationthat would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise whereit was due.
( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) In an open barouche, the horses of which had been taken out, the betterto accommodate it to the crowded place, stood a stout old gentleman,in a blue coat and bright buttons, corduroy breeches and top-boots,two young ladies in scarfs and feathers, a young gentleman apparentlyenamoured of one of the young ladies in scarfs and feathers, a lady ofdoubtful age, probably the aunt of the aforesaid, and Mr. Tupman, aseasy and unconcerned as if he had belonged to the family from the firstmoments of his infancy.
His laughter was forced--his merrimentfeigned; and when at last he laid his aching temples between the sheets,he thought, with horrid delight, on the satisfaction it would affordhim to have Jingle's head at that moment between the feather bed and themattress.
The lightest feather I blow intothe air, against the gay chain that ornaments my body!'In one thing I was deceived with all my cunning.
I know a gen'l'man, Sir,' said Mr. Weller, 'as did that, and begun attwo yards; but he never tried it on agin; for he blowed the bird rightclean away at the first fire, and nobody ever seed a feather on himarterwards.
The recollection of all the wrongs he had sustained atJingle's hands, had crowded on Mr. Pickwick's mind, the moment Mr.Weller began to speak; it wanted but a feather to turn the scale, and'old Fireworks' did it.
Mr. Trundle was in high feather and spirits, buta little nervous withal.