Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 73: what you’re looking at

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ey hs Ai : 7 y > by the obje-. of this solemn visit. The ob- ject himself was seated at the table with his imestimable friends, Messieurs Li ling, and Tims; and as those gentlemen already commenced their orgies, the sicht was doubtless a very gratifying one to a father who was afraid that his son might be rotting ina gaoL “Well, Master, what’s-hisname—you've got into Thing-um-bob at last, have you?! inquired Mr.. Sugden, senior, as he indig- nantly surveyed the person of his delin- quent son. “ Now, mind what I say, young man: if so be.as you don’t mend your ways —and very speedily too—Ill be d—d if you don’t come to be sent:abroad for your country’s good.” “ Indeed,” suggested Mr. Pickwick bland- ly, who did not precisely comprehend the nature of the figure of speech by which Mr. Sugden intended to represent the slight in- convenience called transporting ; “ I should not imagine that your son would so easily obtain a government situation, unless he con- ducts himself better in future:—”’ and in order to punish the culprit for the duplicity and systematic deception he had so success- fully practised upon the credulity of those who would have as his friends, Mr. Pick- wick proceeded to readaloud the contents of the letters he had that morning received from London, and which bore such flattering and highly creditable testimonials to the good character of the subject of them. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the prison- companions of Mr. Sugden, junior, were fair- ly convulsed at the detail of that gentle- man’s delinquencies in London; and that Mr. Tims pronounced him to be “ the most knowing cove” with whose acquaintance he had ever been honored. Even the respect- able landlord of the Lanthorn and Cat him- self indulged in an ill-suppressed chuckle, as Mr. Pickwick read the aforesaid dero- gatory epistles aloud to the whole party present. “ Perhaps youd like to take something to jan Rig A yi that?” said Mr, Lipman, when the letters were again consigned to Mr. Pickwick’s pocket. “Or tip us a stave of the old hundredth psalin,” suggested Mr. Jopling. “ Or stand on your head for a wager,” added Mr. Tims. “ Come—come, none o’ that ’ere, gen’le- men,” cried Mr. Weller, elbowing his way between the persons of Messieurs Tupman and Winkle, and confronting the three face- PICKWICK ABROAD. 63 tious friends of the quondam Adolphus Crashem, with a threatening attitude. “ Don’t you see, Sir, that them chaps is humbugging you vith their wery and all other sorts o' gammon? For tup pense I'd pitch into ’em, as the little boy. said ven he saw the mince-pies in his mo- ther’s larder.” . polite offers to drink, | “ We had better retire, Sam,” exclaimed . Mr. Pickwick, casting a withering glance at the three gentlemen, who immediately burst. out into a most reverent laugh, instead of being scorched in their chairs. “ Ve had, Sir,” retuned Mr. Weller em- phatically, “ an’ for fear o’ contamination too, as the street-sveeper said vhen he made vay for the dustman.” Mr. Pickwick accordingly turned abruptly on his heel, and hastily left the apartment, followed by Messieurs 'Tupman, Winkle, and Weller; while Mr. Sugden, senior, proceeded to take measures for the prompt emancipa- tion of his son and heir from the walls of the New Prison—the subsequent accomplish- ment of which feat in the course of the day awakened no small feeling of regret in the minds of Mr. Lipman and Mr. Jopling, who probably foresaw a considerable chance of be- ing frequently condemned to have recourse to the baked-potatoes and butter as a cheap and wholesome substitute for those succulent repasts they had been accustomed to partake of at the table of Mr. William Sugden. When Mr. Pickwick and his companions once more returned to the superb caravan- seray at which they resided, Mr. Weller was dismissed to amuse himself to the best of his endeavors, and the three gentlemen proceed- ed to their common sitting-room, to write a variety of letters, in the dispatch of which cor- respondence they were somewhat in arreat. Mr. Pickwick was desirous of communicating with his stock-broker—Mr. Winkle with his beloved spouse and revered father—and Mr. Tupman with a couple of young milliners, the one residing in Pimlico, and the other in Pentonville, who formed part and par cel of the circle of his acquaintance. Other epistles were also to be indited for the perusal of Mr. Augustus Snodgrass and a plurality of friends. It was therefore unanimously agreed to devote the morning to the occupa- tion of writing, and the evening to the less mnocent, but more diverting entertainment of visiting the Royal Academy of Music, and the Theatre of the Porte Saint Martin, Mr. Pickwick sagaciously observing that it was better to kill two birds with one stone. (CO) JOO Cs) co An