Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 90: what you’re looking at

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a e _ PICKWICK ABROAD. +: cousin who persecute me to give him my } time to collect the ideas which the arrival of. _ “Heavens! are the young and the beauti- ful, and the unprotected thus. to, meet with monsters instead of champions in the indivi- duals to whom they fly for refuge? ejacu- lated Mr. Winkle, his indignation getting the better of his patience; “are honor and disin- terested feelings to be exterminated from th face of the earth ?” : | It is certain that this pathetic appeal, to the azure canopy above produced an imme- diate and deep effect upon the young lady, for she frantically hid her countenance in her pocket-handkerchief, and the motion of her. ody indicated the emotion of her mind. It is however awkward that, whether in the extremes of bliss or woe, ladies, myariably conceal the features in their hands or ker- ‘chiefs, thus leaving a spectator uncertain as to whether suppressed laughter or stifled sobs agitate thei frames. “ “Kind—generous stranger !” said the. young lady, subsequently revealing her countenance once more; “how can me repay you for dis sympathy ?” : “ First,” returned Mr, Winkle, “ may I re- quest to know whom I have the honor to address ?” “Oh! me forget to tell you my name!” exclaimed the young lady:; “ me called Ma- dame Augustine del’ Amour—my husband was one great banker in Paris—but, at: his death, de partners cheat me out of every sou.” | “ And this cousin of your’s, Madame del— del—” inquired Mr, Winkle. “De YAmour,” suggested the young lady. ~ “Oh ! my cousin— he old, ugly, disagreeable fellow—he pretend love me—me detest him in return.” Sw “Tt is very natural so to do,” began Mr. Winkle ; “and if I were in your place, Ma- dame de YAmour—” BY Mr. Winkle stopped, for the door of the boudoir was thrown hastily open, and the servant girl, with a pale face and bewildered air, rushed mto the room. “What de matter now?” demanded the - widow in English, in order that Mx. Winkle might understand all that, was goig on. “Your cousin, Madame, your cousin !” ex- claimed the girl, also speaking English, and for the same behoof. | Madame de» ?Amour sank almost insen- sible upon the sofa—a step was heard in the ~ adjoming room—the case was desperate, s0 was the lady’s maid—and, before he had t a the j ealous cousin had: entirely scattered : md disseminated on every side, Mr, Winkle was hastily thrust into an adjoining closet and _al- most into a foul clothes’ bag simultaneously, by the prudent domestic. No sooner was he safely ensconced in his place.of concealment, from which he could see into, the boudoi through a small window covered: with ¢ gauze blind, than the cousin walked into the room, and hastened to seat himself by the side of Madame de Amour. , 3 . But, to the astonishment of Mr. Winkle, - the cousin; istead of being old, ugly, and disagreeable, was young, hiiecre, and ap-. parently very agreeable, if Mr. Winkle might » be allowed to judge by the tender smiles and » glances with which he was received by th beautiful widow. The conversation that en- sued was Carried on in French; and thus Mr. Winkle was prevented from ascertaining if Madame del Amour expressed in words the diseust she contrived so admirably well to conceal by her behavior. ' # A copious dejewner a la fourchette was presently arranged upon the table; andy while he did ample justice to the succulent viands, the amorous cousin drank a couple of bottles of Claret, with no other assist- ance than that of a pint of Madeira to set- tle them upon his stomach. To be brief, which is more than the visit was—after a stay of two hours, he rose to depart, to the inexpressible delight of Mr. Winkle, whose esence of mind had nearly succumbed to the feelings of unmitigated disgust, and the unsavory odor of the foul clothes that op- pressed him. | At length, when the young gentleman was gone, and Mr. Winkle’s fright nearly so, the cupboard door was unbolted, and a perfect encyclopedia of apologies expressed the sorrow which filled the bosom of Mad- ame de l’Amour on account of the unplea- ' ' sant predicament in which her visitor had been detained. “ But myiicousin is so vary jealous,” said the fair widow, resuming her seat upon the sofa, having thrust Mr. Winkle into his own, “that me dare not offend him—not for all de world.” a “I thought you said he was old,” ob- served Mr. Winkle. weimiiea, ~'2 * He seem old to me, . replied Madame de 1’Amour. digger res _ “ And ugly,” continued Mr. Winkle ~ Qh! he detestable !” cried the lady with great emphasis. CONNICL@C (C(@) cS