Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABRVUAD, eels with the determination of outstripping his competitors; and M, Samuel Weller bestowed additional interest upon the whole scene uy throwing his hat up in the air a degeracd of times, and catching it des- terously in one hand, while the aforesaid air was rent with the clamorous “‘ Hurrahs!” he emitted from his capacious throat. ‘‘ Muy I never again aspire to the favours of the fair sex, if I am not perfectly out of breath with astonishment!” exclaimed Mr. Siffkin, when the whole party was again concentrated in one spot. ‘‘ Self-preservation is a part of every sensible man's system,”’ said Mr. Hook Walker. “I’m sure I didn’t know what / was running for,” observed Mr. Winkle, with considerable emphasis on the pronoun. *‘ And I only ran because I saw Pickwick do so,” exclaimed Mr. ‘Tupman. ‘‘ What were the stakes? Who won?” enquired Mr. Scuttle. ‘“‘It was merely a practical illustration of a self-eviden. proposi- tion !”” cried the charming Mrs. Weston with a sweet smile. ‘* Really—I was so overcome—a sudden panic,’ said Mr. Pickwick, somewhat confused: “but after all, man has built stiles to protect himself against savage cattle, and is therefore lord of the creation.” ‘* An’ alvays vill be so, Sir,” observed Mr. Weller, ‘‘ till cattle builds atiles to keep him out. Ve ain’t got no hides, un’ ve ain't got no tails; end tho’ some on us does now and then vear horns, ve’re still wery - snuch removed from the rank of them brute-beastesses vot lives upon rrass;"—and having delivered himself of this eloquent oration. M1. Weller bestowed a perfect museum of winks and nods upon the astonished Mr. Nassau Siffkin, who requested a certain dark gentle- man below to fetch him away if Sam Weller were not a most extraordi- nary fellow. Mr. Weller expressed his regret that he could not return che compiiment; and order being now once more established in the ranks, Messieurs Scuttle and Walker resumed the command of the squadron, which passed rapidly onward in the direction of the church. CHAPTER XXXII. THE ELECTION.-——-THE CONVENIENCE OF SEATS 1N AN ARBOUR, AND OP AN ARBOUR IN A GARDEN.=——A SONG.-——-AN ACCIDENT WHICH LEADS TO A SERIES OF UNPARALLELED ADVENTURES. Cue village church of Sur6éne was thronged with gaily dressed people of every rank and condition. On one side might be seen the high- horn ladies from Paris, whom gorgeous equipages had set down at the loor of the sacred edifice; on the other the quiet and unassuming trades-people, who had performed the short journey from the metro- pou in a cuckoo (a species of curiously contrived short-stage van). ere was the gay young man about town, with his mistress: there the wealthy banker from the Chaussée d’ Antin with his wife. Many a oung heart was there beating with anxious hope and expectation. The young girls each fancied that haply the election might terminate m favour of herself; and the young men wished for the honour of 6)(0)) a (2) = a Si Co