Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

filled worlds with his fame. These instan- ces of extreme hilarity were, however, ob- jected to by certain selfish and discontented ersons—-a circumstance admirably calcu- lated to illustrate the ingratitude of the worid, and the jealousy existing between all truly great men. | The steam-vessel shortly hove in sight, and glided rapidly over the still waters of the harbor “jist like a hanimal of real life,” as an English gentleman, quoting Byron, and taking a snort black pipe from his mouth, remarked to a friend on the occa- sion. The packet at length came along- side the quay, and every neck was elon- gated, and every eye was dilated, ani] every elbow was exactly fitted into th land—and the valve opened with a terrific noise—and. a tremendvus shout arose amongst the crowd—and the name of “ Pickwick” was echoed far and wide, to the astonishment of a couple of gendarmes and two or three custom-house officers. who were so barbarously ignorant of civilized matters as to be entirely unacquainted with the nomenclature of one whose scientific re- searches and philanthropic feelings had ma- terially benefited mankind. species cf trepidation ; “one would really have thought they mentioned my name ?” “No—did they, though?’ cried Mr ‘Winkle, turning very pale. | \ vessel before any one could be permitted to ~ «Dear me,” said Mr. Pickwick, in a | “ » ; , a m le | & ™ "e 4 ‘ * PICKWICK ABROAD. ee town. This was, however, speedily contra- | vacuum between the ribs of a neighbor, 2 dieted, it being satisfactorily ascertained ! the general excitement caused by the de that the swift horseman was merely a | sire to ascertain if Mr. Pickwick were really master-butcher of Boulogne in search of a | on board the vessel. runaway apprentice. Unconscious ‘of the honors awaiting him ' It caunot be wondered at if these disap- | —calm and reflective, as was his wont— pointments created a painful suspense, and | clad in the usual way—with the well. gave a keener edge to the curiosity of the | known black gaiters—the low hat—the assembled multitude. It has indeed been | spectacles—and the eye-glass—and near subsequently whispered that the opportuni- | the helm—stood the great man whom hun- ties were eagerly sought and turned to ad- | dreds had assembled to gaze upon. On vantage by two or three individuals, who, | his right was the sleek and well-conditioned without being actually on the list of con- | Tracy Tupman, whose eye still loved to veyancers, proved themselves to be very | wander over the handsome features of the skilful ones, in the removal of sundry | fair sex, and whose gold chain had almost pocket-handkerchieis, &c. ; and it is no less | entirely disappeared from the sphere of his a fact calculated to startle and shame Lon-| visual rays, beneath the extensive silk’ don practitioners in the inns of court, that | waistcoat. On Mr. Pickwick’s left hand the business was most effectually done | was the young friend who had partaken of without deed or document, and in such per- | all that ilustrious man’s former dangers, fect tranquility and secresy, that the pro- | difficulties, and perils, and who had equally , perty was duly conveyed from one indi- | shared in the renown that had attended vidual to another unknown at the moment | success, But time and matrimony had ~ to the principal party concerned. done much for Nathaniel Winkle, The vm When suspense and anxiety were at | sporting dress was discarded, andablack _ their utmost, the smoke of a steam-packet | coat, somewhat loose at the waist, with was perceived in the distance, sea-ward, | black trowsers and a striped silk stock, re- and beyond the iong range of sand-hills that | placed the conspicuous habiliments he once skirts the coast. A momentary feeling of | had delighted in. Behind this interesting indescribable awe seized upon the crowd, | group was stationed Mr. Samuel Weller, and then a long and simultaneous shout | with an open great-coat and several capes expressed the fondness of the anticipation | over a new suit of livery, and the same that was to be found in every breast. At} cunning smile, and air of indifference, that © the same moment the hats of several | were the characteristics of Tony Weller’s son. private individuals stationed amongst the | . No sooner did the vessel touch the quay * multitude were propelled with violence | than the captain, who was mounted on one over their eyes; and this facetious display | of the paddle-boxes, cried out something to of a generally prevalent good feeling on | the man at the helm—and a sailor on beard a the occasion, was considered the most | cried out something to a sailor on shore— a beautiful and affecting portion of the wel- | and ropes were thrown in all directions—_— tome awaiting the arrival of him who had | and the captain insisted upon turning the ‘ | Go DOG <S (E(@)