Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

u on Ate . r. . wr TOM + ar 124 * PIOKWICK ABROAD. “ = *. an indictment for a nuisance; but the major paid his thirty shillings for rent, and his three-and-sixpenee forcoals, every Mon- day morning; and so Mr. Muggins said nothing about the noise and the tobacco- smoke. The back drawing-room and bed- room oyer-head, were tenanted by the Edi- ‘tor of a weekly newspaper, who was,a very quiet. man, although somehow or ‘another he never could write a line save under the influence of Barclay and Perkins’ best draught stout, of which he generally im- bibed a quart before he rose in the, morn- me. ‘ . Stamford-street itself is the only respect- able one in all that neighborhood. It is principally habited by individuals having business in the City, or by authors ; and the landlords of the houses for’ the. most part are exceedingly prone to the letting of lodgings... All the .servants in this street are acquainted with each other; and tkus, the affairs of their respective masters and mistresses are no secret. The gentleman who beats his wife three or four times a day in order to remind her that he is sole lord and master in his own house ; the sur- geon, who has married two or three sisters, as fast as one died off; the lady and gentle- man that ain't married, although they pass themselves off as man and wife; and the old bachelor, who has been a sadfellow in his day,—all these are the subjects of con- versation and scandal amongst the local do- mestics. In the summer time, the young ladies sit in low gowns at the open drawing room windows, and with their feet on the balconies; and in the winter they stand, working or looking out into the street, at the same casements. ‘The most remarkable individuals to be encountered in Stamford- street, besides its inhabitants, are the fruit- erer with his cart, the watercress woman with her shrill..cry, the compositors and ‘boys from Mr.Clowes’s printing office, the policemen and the watchmen at night. But this sameness in the sphere.of animated na- ‘ture is occasionally varied. by the tax- gatherer, who always wild come just when there’s nothing for htm—the sheriff’s-officer in search of a candidate for the Bench— and the landlord, to claim those arrears which it is not always convenient to pay. But toreturn to Captain Horatio Clarence Walsingham. This gentleman knocked for about three-quarters of a minute at Mr. Muggins’ door, and was speedily admitted into the front parlor and to the presence of Muggins. moment?” brown cap.upon her head. | that individual, who had just.disnussed hic breakfast and the newspaper. : “Good morning, Mr. Muggins,” was the Captain’s amiable salutation : this‘ morning ?” | ‘ig, A “Pretty tidy; thank’ee,” returned Mr. Muggins. “Pray take a cheer.” | “And how’s Mrs, Muggins ?” inquired the ‘Captain with great feeling, as he sank into the proffered seat; “and all the family ?” “Hearty—quite. hearty,” replied Mr. “But will you excuse me fora “Oh! certainly,” exclaimed the Captain ; and Mr. Muggins pulled the bell with furi- } ous violence, * The summons was answered by a stout female domestic, with an exceedingly dirty apron round her waist, and a large whity- “Mary,” cried Mr, Muggins, when the servant made her appearance; “I’m very uneasy about that there apple-tart. What could have become of it?” | “Lor, Sir ;’ returned .the domestic, “ it worn't bigger than yer thumb.” i “JT don’t care, Mary,’ ejaculated Mr. ~Muggins, “how big it was; or how small it Was. of it 2” “Well, Sir,” retorted the cook; “and pray did I say that there worn’t any ?” ~“T didn’t say you. did, Mary,” answered Mr. Muggins: “but if we could find out who took the apple-tart, we might p’rhaps, diskiver the person which took the cold sassages t’other dity.” “T never was accused of nothink afore this,” began the domestic, now whimpering in order to avoid further interrogation ; “and Ive lived three year, come Lady’s day, Mr. Muggins, in your service. And previous to that, I was seven year four months and a week with Captain Whiston- bury and his lady; and they never missed —no, not the walley of a blessed farden— except the brandy as no one never could account for, and them bottles o’ wine which I never could make out how they got away. But as for the broken wittles—Id scorn the haction !” ; And with all the dignity of conscious in- nocence, this much injured woman wiped her eyes upon the corner of her apron, arranged her cap, and stared full and dauntlessly in the face of her accuser. ° «“Well—well, Mary,” said Mr. Muggins, softening ; “I dare say it’s all right—all All I wantto know 1s, what become “how are you « : . GO LOO! KS,E@ @