Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

PACK WICK: ABROAD.: YD “‘The French 1s wery notorious for their vay‘o’ takin’ leave, Sir,’. said Mr. Weller, again joining in the conversation, and touching hig nat periodically; ‘‘and p’rhaps they isn’t more partickler, as the sayin’ is, in the vay in vich they velcomes a forinner to Frogland.” ‘“*But I think—indeed, I am almost sure,’’ suggested Mr. Pick- wick, hazarding an opinion with all his native diffidence and modesty, “that there are a great many English amongst the crowd here as- sembled.”’ | ‘Singular costumes the fish-girls have!’ observed Mr. Tupman— ** or else they would not be bad-looking.” —_— ) . “ Tupman, my dear fellow,” said Mr. Pickwick, sternly, ‘ let-us think of our safety for the present, and talk of—but, Winkle, my good friend, what is the matter with you—are you unwell ?”’ | “Oh! no—not at all,” returned Mr. Winkle, casting a glance ot extreme horror and suspicion at the gendarmes whu stood in front ot the crowd. ‘* Beg pardon, Sir,” said Sam, stepping forward and addressing hime self to Mr. Pickwick, ‘‘ but don’t you think 'twould be adwisable to order the skipper o’ this ’ere wessel to putt us down on t’other side o' the vay ?”’ , ) " : “* Oh, do!” cried Mr. Winkle,:impleringly. — £-. “Why, Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, in a tone of bland appeal, ‘‘ do you really think there is any ddngur ?” . , ‘* Do you see them ’ere Johnny Darmies, with their cock-hats and black mustashes ?” demanded Mr. Weller; ‘‘ an’ if so be your wisual tays:.does ‘appen to en-counter them gen’lemen, p’rhaps you'd also con-sider that mob, and then assure me if there isn’t mischief meant, as the Hindian remarked to his friend ven they met the alligator.” 1 Are those soldiers French police officers, then?’’ enquired Mr, Pickwick, in a hurried tone of voice. . | , “They air, Sir,” returned Mr. Weller, sériously ; ‘‘ the man at. the hel-em assured me that sich vos the fact; and a French Johnny Darmy ‘ould think as much o’ spitting a fellow-Christian through the guts as a French sugger ‘ould care about running another through vith his et. 99 : ; ** You don’t say so, Sam!’’ exclaimed Mr. Winkle, edging behind Mr. Tupman, and trembling violently—with the cold, as he subse- quently informed his companions. “Dear me, how they shout!” cried Mr. Pickwick, alluding to the ‘assembled crowd, whose combined hundreds of lungs sent forth most vehement tokens of applause, to the utter astonishment of Mr. Pick- wick and his followers. Their terror was, however, speedily dissipated by the assurances of the captain, to whom Mr. Pickwick thought it right to appeal for protection. . , a 7 “‘ Sir,” said the captain respectfully, “‘ that crowd has assembled tc welcome the landing of Mr. ickwick' and as such is your name—” ~* “ Right for vonce, old feller,” interrupted Mr. Weller. ‘‘Samivel Piekvick, Esk-vire, o’ Dulwich Lodge.” a --2“ Silence, Sam,” ‘said Mr. Pickwick, ‘‘ Pray proceed, Sir.” . ‘‘ T have very little to say, Sir,” continued the captain, casting a look- of ‘angry defiance at the imperturbable Mr. Weller; ‘‘ merelv that all this row is to honour your arrival in Calais; and those gen- (COU ©) 6)(0)(6) cS (c@)