THE ORCHID WORLD. 
Ample tents and temporar)' wooden buildings 
had been erected, and all the resources of 
Messrs. Gunter brought into play to provide 
the feast. Gorgeous plate, fine china and 
sparkling crystal, combined with the most 
delicate viands and high-priced wines to 
charm the eye and tempt the palate. 
" What the morning promised — (a wet day) 
— the noon fulfilled, and the weather settled 
into a confirmed rain ; and as the hours wore 
on it grew worse and worse, and the rain fell 
heavier and heavier. Still the possessors of 
the much-prized tickets made their appear- 
ance. Carriage after carriage deposited its 
fair and gaily-dressed freight at the gates. 
The cavalry made a good harvest on this 
day ; they lent their long, heavy military 
cloaks to the ladies to protect them on their 
passage from their carriages to the tents at 
2s. 6d. each, whence, ushered into the tents, 
they endeavoured to drown the splashing of 
the rain on the roof by the loud harmony of 
military bands, and to forget their discomfort 
in the enjoyment of the table. 
" Many and strange were the scenes that 
passed. The tents were open in front, and 
the driving rain came pelting in ; the canvas 
roof soon distilled drops or streams at many 
places ; the ladies, as they sat or stood, found 
the water invading their shoes. The inge- 
nuity of the gentlemen came to the rescue : 
some of the ladies were placed on the table ; 
the dishes were emptied of their cold fowls 
and tongues and hams, and the ladies stood 
or sat on the dishes, the viands being placed 
on the bare table ; and the mixture of cross- 
ness, good humour and the fun was indescrib- 
able. The cold and wet demanded support, 
and the supply of champagne was liberal, so 
that, notwithstanding the frightful weather, 
the company became gay and merry. Little 
they knew the anxiety and trouble the 
officials had been put to to procure them even 
such qualified enjoyment without interrup- 
tion. 
" The entertainment had scarcely com- 
menced when news was brought to Dr. 
Lindley that the torrents of rain had so 
soaked and sapped the earth that the pillars 
or supports of the temporary' buildings 
forming the rear of the tents were beginning 
to yield, and that there was danger that the 
whole fabric might give way and bury the 
compan}- in its wet embrace. Dr. Lindley, 
with his usual fertility of resource, instantly 
sent into the streets, pot-houses, barns, and 
smithies of Chiswick and Turnham Green — 
wherever men on a rainy day do most con- 
gregate. ' Hire,' said he, ' every man you 
can get ; don't stand upon the price ; give 
them one shilling an hour, two shillings, five 
shillings — whatever they require ; but hire 
them instantly and send them in at once.' 
As the men came they were posted in clumps 
around every pillar and support to hold them 
up, while the unconscious guests revelled 
within. 
" As the day wore on matters became 
worse. It was only by main force that the 
buildings were sustained. Still the entertain- 
ment ran its course. At last it came to a 
close, and the visitors began to take their 
departure. As they went the weather began 
to clear, and at six o'clock the rain ceased. 
" The guests paused in their departure, and 
determined on a fresh effort at enjoyment. 
The musicians, who had retired to obtain 
their own refreshment, were recalled from the 
public-houses to which they had retreated, in 
order to enable the guests to terminate the 
fete with dancing ; and on the wet and 
splashy grass dancing was for some short 
time kept up. This, however, soon ceased, 
dancing in soaked boots and shoes on wet 
grass not being an amusement capable of 
long enjoyment, and at last the day's enter- 
tainment came to an end. 
" No sooner had the last visitor taken his 
departure, and the men released from their 
long and laborious duty, than the posts and 
pegs at the back of the tents and buildings 
slowly yielded, ploughing through the muddy 
puddle in which they stood, and the whole 
fabric gave way with a crash, burying in one 
undistinguishable ruin the tables and the 
dinner service, wines and viands under their 
wet and heavy folds. 'What are we to do, 
sir? ' cried the panic-stricken servants. ' Let 
them lie until Monday,' was the reply ; and 
so they did, and longer than Monday. It was 
