Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 82: what you’re looking at

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72 CHAPTER XV. Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle are informed of Mr. Tupman’s departure.—Mrs. Weston’s soiree.— The supper, and other equally amusing incidents. —Mr. Weller’s anecdote. Yx, who listen with avidity to the anec- dotes of life, and follow with ardor the va- ried paths of romance—who expect that the author will perform the wishes of your imagination, and that the deficiencies of one chapter will be supplied by another— attend to the adventures of Pickwick and of Winkle! At five o’clock, on the day when Mr. Tupman deemed it prudent to leave Paris with Mademoiselle Anastasie de Volage, did Mr. Pickwick and Mr, Winkle return to Meurice’s hotel to dress for dinner, But when Mr. Weller announced the pleasing fact that the repast was served up, and the provoking one that Mr. Tupman was not yet returned, those two gentlemen did that which any other two gentlemen would have done in the same situation, viz., they sat down and dined without him. “ Very singular,” said Mr. Pickwick, when the dessert was placed upon the table; “Tupman seldom dines out without letting us know beforehand. I hope no disagreea- ble occurrence has detained him.” “So do I,” said Mr. Winkle, shrewdly suspecting that some love-affair was the cause of their friend’s absence. The wine was passed, and a miscellane- ous conversation wiled away the time till the hour approached for preparing for Mrs. _ Weston’s soiree. The antepenultimate glass - ‘was imbibed—and still Mr. Tupman did not make his appearance. ‘The penultimate potation was drank in silence—and the ul- timate was not capable of soothing the anxiety of Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle. The clock struck eight—another half-hour passed away—and then the door was has- tily opened. But it was not Mr. Tupman who entered the room, although a person little less illustrious—it was Mr. Weller. “ Letter, Sir,” said that gentleman, hand- ing a note to his‘master, and slowly retreat- ing towards the door, through which he did not, however, think it worth while to eva- porate. Mr. Pickwick immediately recognised the hand-writing of Mr. Tupman, and as speed- ily made himself aware of the contents of the missive. He uttered not a syllable, but passed the note to his young friend, and sank thoughtfully back into his chair, PICKWICK ABROAD, “ What!” exclaimed Mr. Winkle; Tup- man has actually deserted us—run away— bolted !’—and ‘large tears ran down his cheeks, | | " “ Vell,” said Mr. Weller, after a moment's consideration, “ here’s the devil to pay, and no money to give him! If I vos the govner, blest if I vouldn’ drive them wa- garies out o’ Mr. Tupman’s head; I’d rub him down vith a oaken towel, and give twenty-five drops o’ shillalah-oil in his tea every mornin’ for a fornit or so.” “ Perhaps he may come: back in a two,” suggested Mr. Pickwick. i “ At all events, we musn’t let our friends day or know that he has eloped,” said Mr. Winkle. “ Scuttle and Walker would only laugh at us.” “ That ’ud be too civil by von half” re- marked Mr. Weller, “ vich vos the wery ap- propriate obserwation made on a certain oc- casion.” “ What was that, Sam?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, endeavoring to force a smile. “Vy, Su,” responded Mr. Weller, “ vonce upon a time a poor vasher-voman vos a val- kin’ along Pentonwil vith a huge basket.’ linen on each arm, and a bundle o’ the same on her back. Vell, Sir, she stops at a house —and a wery decent crib it where—and she sees a genleman a coming along; so she asks him to knock at the door for her. The gen’ leman, vich vos exceedin’ obligin’, imme- diately complied vith the poor voman’s rek-vest; but instead o comin’ it small vith a single knock, as becomed the poor vasher- voman’s conditron, he givesa tat-tat-tat-tat— rat-tat-tat-tat—tat-tat-tat-tat, mcreasing more wiolently with every stroke. might the poor vom and the passin’ chimbley-sveep exclaim, ‘ Go it, my covey, that’s too civil by half’” “ Very singular,” said Mr. Pickwick, rising from his chair. “Sam, get us some hot water—and let's make haste and start to Mrs. Weston’s abode.” - The two gentlemen soon beautified them- selves to their hearts’ content, and at about half-past nine o'clock they proceeded to a handsome house in the Rue Taitbout, a por- tiod of which was occupied by Mrs. Weston; and were speedily ushered into the presence ot Mr. Scuttle and his niece. Miss Weston was at this period exactly what Madame Vestris was about the same time—viz,, fat, fair, and forty; her figure was more in ' he proportions of a Hebe than of a Sylph—her countenance was, however, plensilie Hes Vell indeed | be dumb-foundered, Go DOG (€(@) cS