Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 60: what you’re looking at

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00 ‘instructive and the best calculated to make a good man ?” “That von in partickler, sir,” answered Sam, hastily, “vich talks about the for-give- ness of von’s enemies, sir, to be sure.” “Ah!” said. Mr. Pickwick, as if a new light had suddenly broken in upon him. “To be sure, sir,” continued Mr. Weller: “vot can be more beautifuller than that there passage in the Scripture—If a chap give you a cuff on von side o’ your physi- ognomy, sir, pre-sent him vith tother? I don’t mean another cuff, sir—but t’other side o’ the cheeks.” “That, you know, is an allegory, Sam,” ‘observed Mr. Pickwick, with a faint smile. “Hallegory or astronomy, sir,” continued | Mr. Weller, earnestly, “it’s all the.same in the end, as the gen’ leman—but no, sir—ve mustn’t joke in a serious matter ;” and this was the first time in his life that Sam had stopped short in the midst of one of his favorite figures of speech; and in order to relieve his feelings, he shook his head saga- ciously some halt-a-dozen times, with pecu- liar elasticity and airiness. . ‘ “Such is your opinion, is it, Sam ?” said Mr. Pickwick, after a pause. “My o-pinion, sir,” returned Mr. Weller, emphatically, “is that that maxim vich preaches for-giveness, en-ceteray, en-ceteray, ts the best.” “So it is, Sam,” assented Mr. Pickwick ; and now that the ice was fairly broken, Mr. Weller adroitly turned the conversation to the penitence of the wretched Mr. Tracy Tupman. ® “Where is my dressing-gown, Sam ?” in- quired Mr. Pickwick, after a long pause, during which he appeared to have been wrapt up in deep contemplation. “On that there cheer, sir,” responded Mr. Weller, indicating the place with a dexter- ous movement of his right arm; “an a wery nice robe-de-shamble it is, too, as the French say.” . “’Tis decided!” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick ; and having descended from his couch, that great man proceeded to envelope his illus- trious person in the dressing-gown alluded to ere now. He then hastened to Mr. Tup- man’s chamber, and a most affecting inter- view forthwith ensued. “Stay !’ said Mr. Pickwick, as his friend was about to narrate his adventures of the preceding evening.. “The weather is rath- * er cold—and—as I haven't got on my breeches, you shall tell me all this present- PICKWICK ABROAD. @ ly. We may have time, when I think of it, to converse before breakfast. Meet me in the coffee-room in ten minutes, and you shall tell me all your wrongs.” “ Agreed!” cried Mr. Tupman; and Mr. Pickwick returned to his apartment to com- plete his toilet. _ Seven minutes and a half sufficed for Mr. Tupnran to wash and dress himself on this occasion ; and the moment he had thus per- formed the first duties of the morning, he descended to the coffee-room, to await the arrival of his immortal leader. Three or four gentlemen were seated at as many dif- ferent tables, engaged in the agreeable oc- cupation of discussing their breakfasts and the newspaper ; but the countenance of one who was eating muffins with great precis- ion, immediately attracted Mr. Tupman’s attention ; and on a nearer survey, he could not fail to distinguish the lines and linea- - ments peculiar to the face of his friend of the preceding evening, Mr. Hook Walker. “Ah!” said Mr. Tupman, when his visual rays were concentrated, as aforesaid, in ‘the somewhat capacious focus formed by the body of the systematic gentleman; “ah! Mr. Walker—how do you do, sir?” — “Never answer with my month full” re- turned that individual, as he leisurely scan- ned Mr. Tupman’s person from the crown of his head to the heel of his polished boot, and disposed of another muffin to refresh him- self during the survey. “ Well, sir—and how do you do?” enquired Mr. Hook Walker, when his curiosity and hunger were both ap- peased. “Very well, thank’ee,” said Mr. Tupman. “But what became of you last evening ?” “When I got out into the open air,” re- sponded Mr. Walker, “ I suddenly recollect- ed that I had left my purse at home ; and, although’ it is not a part of my system to disappoint a friend, I fancied that I should have time to run to my lodgings, and fetch it. Pray, how long did you wait for me ” “ About twenty minutes,” said .Mr. ‘Tup- man. “Well” continued Mr. Hook Walker, “ it might have been half an hour before I re- turned ; and then you were gone. I offered to pay my share of the dinner at the bar; but found, to my mortification, that you had settled it for me.” | “Oh! as for that,” said Mr. Tupman, pro ducing a small piece of paper from his pock- et, “we can easiiy—” “So I said to myself,” continued Mr Go L0)O\) SEO)