Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 11: what you’re looking at

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_. visable to order the s b m & { Pa jus % » PICKWICK ABROAD. § “T think 309,” returned Mr. Pickwick, casting an anxious glance ‘at the motley - Growd. | “ And so they did, Sir," said Sam Weller, - touching his hat ; “and a preshus queer set they appears to be, if von may judge by fust appearances, as the vite man said to his-self ven he got among the selvidges vich made a fire to eat him. That ’ere gen'le- man in the spatterdashes and lily benjamin, vith a ’ansome castor as ain’t got no crown, is a crying his-self hoarse.” = “This is. very singular—very singular, indeed !” remarked Mr. Pickwick. “The French is wery notorious for their vay 0’ takin’ leave, sir,” said Mr. Weller, again joining in the conversation, and touch- ing his hat periodically ; “ and p’rhaps they isn’t more partickler, as the sayin’ is, in the vay in vich they velcomes a forinner to Frogland.” “ But I think—indeed, I am almost sure,” suggested Mr. Pickwick, hazarding an opin- ion with all his native diffidence and mod- sty, that there are a great many English mongst the crowd here assembled.” “Singular costumes the fish-girls have !” observed Mr. Tupman—“ or else they would not be bad-looking.” “ Tupman, my dea fellow,” said Mr. Pick- wick, sternly, “let us think of our safety for the present, and talk of—but, Winkle, my good friend, what is the matter with you=are you unwell ?” “Oh! no—not at all,” returned Mr. Win- kle, casting a glance of extreme horror an suspicion at the gen d’armes who stood in front of the crowd. ft “Beg pardon, sir,” said Sam, stepping forward and addressing himself to Mr. Pick- ink ’twould be ad- per o’ this ’ere Wes- th putt us down on tother side o’ the vay 2” wick, “but don’t you “Oh, do!” cried Mr. Winkle, imploring- EY oe Ne “Why, Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, in a tone of bland appeal, “do you really think there is any danzer ?” “Do you see them ’ere Johnny Darmies, with their cock-hats and black mustashes ?” demanded Mr. Weiler; “an’ if so be your wisual rays does ’appen to en-counter them gen’lemen, p’rhaps you'd also con-sider that mob, and then assure me if there isn’t mis- . chief meant, as the Hindian remarked to his friend ven they met the alligator.” then ?” inquired Mr. Pickwick, in a hurrie tone of voice. ' “They air, sir,” returned Mr. Weller, se- riously ; “the man at the hel-em assured me that sich vos the fact; and a French Johnny Darmy ’ould think as much o’ spit- ting a fellow-Christian through the guts ag a French sudger ’ould care about running another through vith his bagginet.” ) “You don’t say so, Sam !” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, edging behind Mr. Tupman, and | trembling violently—with the cold, as he subsequently informed his companions. “Dear me, how they shout!” cried Mr. Pickwick, alluding to the assembled crowd, whose combined hundreds of lungs sent forth most vehement tokens of applause, to the utter astonishment of Mr. Pickwick and his followers. Their terror was, however, speedily dissipated by the assurances of the captain, to whom Mr. Pickwick thought it right to appeal for protection. “Sir,” said the captain, respectfully, “ that crowd has assembled to welcome the land- ing of Mr. Pickwick; and as such is your name ' adh. “Right for vorce, old feller,” interrupted Mr. Weller. “Samivel Pickvick, Esx-vire, 0’ Dulwich Lodge.” “Silence, Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick. “ Pray proceed, sir.” “T have very little to say, sir,” continued the captain, casting a look of angry defi- ance at the imperturbable Mr. Weller; “merely that all this row is to honor your arrival in Calais; and those gendarmes and custom-house officers are always present at the landing of passengers, in ade: to con- duct them to that little wooden house you see yonder, tobe searched. | Don’t be afraid, sir—there is no danger ;” and with this con- solatory injunction, which took a considera- ble weight off the mind of Mr Winkle, who, as he immediately informed Mr. Pick- wick, had only felt anxious on that gentle- man’s account, the captain hurried to anoth- er P yeh of the vessel to issue some neces- sary orders. “Dear me,” said Mr. Pickwick, after a pause, “this is very flattering—but very disagreeable , “As the sudger said, ven he vent out to be shot, accompanied by the whole rigment and muffled drums,” observed Mr. Weller. “Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, “you per. ceive those carriages standing there ?” “Wery percentible they air, sir,” returned “Are those soldiers French police officers, | Sam. COMICcMaae s) CO) m