Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

16 ‘¢ They say all Indian nabobs are enormous- ly rich.” ‘‘T believe he has a very large income.” ‘¢ And is your sister-in-law a nice, pretty woman ?” ‘‘ a! Joseph is not married,” said Ame- lia, laughing again. Perhaps she had mentioned the fact al- ready to Rebecca, but that young lady did not appear to have remembered it; indeed, vowed and protested that she expected to see a number of Amelia’s nephews and nieces. She was quite disappointed that Mr. Sedley was not married; she was sure Amelia had said he was, and she doted so on little children. ‘¢] think you must have had enough of them at Chiswick,” said Amelia, rather wondering at the sudden tenderness on her friend’s part; and, indeed, in later days Miss Sharp would never have committed herself so far as to advance opinions, the un- truth of which would have been so easily de- tected. But we must remember that she is but nineteepr as yet, unused to the art of de- ceiving, poor innocent creature! and making her own experience in her own person. The meaning of the above series of queries, as translated in the heart of this ingenious young woman, was simply this: ‘If Mr. Joseph Sedley is rich and unmarried, why should I not marry him? I have only a fort- night, to be sure, but there is no harm in trying.” And she determined within her- self to make this laudable attempt. She re- doubled her caresses to Amelia; she kissed the white cornelian necklace as she put it on; and vowed she would never, never part with it. When the dinner-bell rang she went down stairs with her arm round her friend’s waist, as is the habit of young ladies. She was so agitated at the drawing-room door, that she could hardly find courage to enter. ‘Feel my heart, how it beats, dear!”’ said she to her friend. ‘¢No, it doesn’t,” said Amelia. ‘* Come in, don’t be frightened. Papa won’t do you any harm.”’ CHAPTER III. REBECCA IS IN PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY. A very stout, puffy man, in buckskins and Hessian boots, with several immense neck- cloths, that rose almost to his nose, with a red striped waistcoat and an apple green coat with steel buttons almost as large as - crown pieces (it was the morning costume of a dandy or blood of those days), was read- ing the paper by the fire when the two girls entered, and bounced off his arm-chair, and blushed excessively, and hid his entire face -almost in his neckcloths at this apparition. VANITY FAIR. ‘‘ It’s only your sister, Joseph,’’ said Ame-: lia, laughing and shaking the two fingers which he held out. ‘I’ve come home for good, you know; and this is my friend, Miss: Sharp, whom you have heard me men- tion.” ‘No, never, upon my word,” said the head under the neckcloth, shaking very much—* that is, yes—what abominably cold weather, Miss ;’"—and herewith he fell to poking the fire with all his might, although it was in the middle of June. ‘‘He’s very handsome,’ whispered Re- becca to Amelia, rather loud. ‘Do you think so ?”’ said the latter, ** Pll tell him.” ‘Darling! not for worlds,” said Miss Sharp, starting back as timid as a fawn. She had previously made a respectful virgin- like courtesy to the gentleman, and her mod- est eyes gazed so perseveringly on the car- pet ‘that it was a wonder how she should have found an opportunity to see him. “Thank you for the beautiful shawls, brother,” said Amelia to the fire-poker. ‘‘ Are they not beautiful, Rebecca ?”’ ‘*O heavenly!” said Miss Sharp, and her eyes went from the carpet straight to the chandelier. } Joseph still continued a huge clattering at the poker and tongs, puffing and blowing the while, and turning as red as his yellow face would allow him. ‘I can’t make you such handsome presents, Joseph,” continued his sister, ‘*but while I was at school, I have embroidered for you a very beautiful pair of braces.”’ ‘¢Good Gad! Amelia,” cried the brother, in serious alarm, ‘‘ what do you mean?” and plunging with all his might at the bell- rope, that article of furniture came away in his hand, and increased the honest fellow’s confusion. ‘For heaven’s sake see if my buggy’s at the door. I can’t wait. IJ must go. D— that groom of mine. I must go.” At this minute the father of the family walked in, rattling his seals like a true Brit- ish merchant. ‘+ What’s the matter, Em- my?!” says he. ‘‘ Joseph wants me to see if his—his bug- gy isat the door. What is a buggy, papa?” ‘Tt is a one-horse palanquin,” said the old gentleman, who was a wag in his way. Joseph at this burst out into a wild fit of laughter; in which, encountering the eye of Miss Sharp, he stopped all of a sudden, as if he had been shot. | «This young lady is your friend? Miss Sharp, I am very happy to see you. Have you and Emmy been quarreling already with Joseph, that he wants to be off?” ‘¢T promised Bonamy, of our service, sir,” said Joseph, ‘to dine with him.” “QO fie! didn’t you tell your mother you would dine here 2?” ‘¢ But in this dress it’s impossible.” Gomichboo HAlEO