Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 116: what you’re looking at

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104 the mig .ity piles of the palace of the Tuil- eries, with its, beautiful gardens on one side, and the uniform range of lofty houses upon the other. It was with something border- ing upon reluctance that he pursued his way towards the Rue Royale, where he arrived in about a quarter of an hour, and where he and the friendly Gendarme were cor- dialiy welcomed by Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tup- man, and Mr. Winkle. CHAPTER XXIfP A most interesting chapter, in which certain parti- euiars and discourses, which it would be impossi- bie to detail at the head, are very properly and lucidly presented to the reader. THE reader has yet to be informed of the motives which induced Mr. Snodgrass to visit France. He received a letter from his’ re- spected and venerable friend, Mr, Pickwick, in which that gentleman’s intentions relative to Mrs. Weston were duly mentioned, and which terminated with an invitation to be resent at the weéding. The eventful day d been fixed ; and we now bring our read- ers to it, specifying at the same time, for the behoof of posterity, that it was the Fourth cf October, 1835. We said that we should introduce our read- ers to this day, or the day to them—it mat- ters but little. Suffice it to say, that im mhi- tation of other days, this one dawned, and that it was ushered in big with the fate of Pickwick and of Weston } “What sort of a morning is it Sam ?” in- quired Mr, Pickwick, as that gentleman en- tered his master’s apartment, at an earlier hour than usual. “ Rayther foggy, sir,” was the reply ; “ but good enough for the purpose, I des-say, as ay # . PICKWICK ABROAD. blessed if I knew vether I vos standin’ on my head or my heels. A wery excitin’ day It 1s vith us all, sir, asthe thief said ven he vos goin’ to be hung.” “Well, I think it is, Sam,” observed Mr. Pickwick. “Has the tailor sent home my new clothes ?” | “ Tights, veskitt, coat, gaiters, and all,” re- turned Mr. Weller, pointing to a.chair on which ' the articles he nad just enumerated, lay ; “an’ a new tile a-hangin’ on the peg outside 0 the door. Do you know, str, vot the gen’le- man said to tother gen’leman as threatened to give him a good volloping for cheatin’ at cards?” “No: what did he say, Sam?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick. . “<T say my wery partickler and indepen- dent friend” says von gen’leman to t’other, Pil jist give you agood dressin’, I vill’— ‘ And wery much obleeged I shall be if you do, says tother, ‘cos I’m blow’d if my tailor vill’—That’s the story, sir,’ added Mr. Wel- ler. ay “ A very clever retort, too, Sam,” remark- ed Mr. Pickwick. “ But to return to the subject of marriage, Sam. What did you do the first thing in the morning of your wedding-day ?” “ Had a pint o’ half-an’-half, Sir,” was the very candid reply; “ an’ then I eat.two pounds o’ cold weal-pie for breakfast. I couldn’t drink water on that there mornin’, cos it’s nerwous. Bohay don’t agree with von on them kind o’ days: so I valked inte the bottled porter. Ven nervesis bad, malt drinks is good.” “Ts that a fact, Sam?” said Mr. Pickwick. “T have a very great mind to try a glass of something to compose myself.” “A glass o’ beer, or ago o’ summot short, ain’t no bad thimg on these oc-casions,” re- turned Mr. Weller. “ But you must mind the gen’leman observed ven he took the blun- derbuss to blow his brains out vith. How dye feel yourself this mornin’ sir ?” . “Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, mysteriously beckoning his servant to draw near the bed. “Veil, sir,” said Mr. Weller; “you ain't a- goin’ for to funk now, and make a hobject o’ yourself for all your friends to pint at, air » you ?” inquired the faithful domestic. “Tell me,,.Sam,” continued Mr Pickwick, speaking in a low tone of voice; “how did you feel the day you were married ?” an’ look wery doleful ven Bishop Luscombe. goes for to pro-ounce the blessin’ at the , Hambassador’s Chapel. It ain’t respectful: — to be grinnin’ avay like clock-vork. The: wisage ought to accord vith the ceremony, as the clown said at the theaytre ven they. asked him to perform Hamlet.” | « And as you went to church, Sam,” pur- sued Mr. Pickwick, “ how did you behave to your intended ?” : , “Vy, Sir,” was the immediate answer, “I couldn’t wery vell kiss her afore the t’ other “Vy, preshus qveer, sir,” answered Mr.Wel- | people, so I jist squeezed her elber, an’ vhis- ler; “cos I'd drunk such a nation lot o Gin- | pered ia ker ear that she vos as pretty as a zess's stout to keep my sperets up, that I'm |; pocket Wenus. Then as ve passed a shop, I CS COnniclooo (A) com