The proceedings had not yet commenced; and as an inactive crowd is generally disposed to be jocose, this very innocent action was sufficient to awaken their facetiousness.
'Oh, you wicked old rascal,' cried one voice, 'looking arter the girls, are you?'
'Oh, you wenerable sinner,' cried another.
'Putting on his spectacles to look at a married'ooman!' said a third.
'I see him a-winkin' at her, with his wicked old eye,'shouted a fourth.
'Look arter your wife, Pott,' bellowed a fifth—and then there was a roar of laughter.