Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroad. 131 arrangement was immediately put into effect, the four inmates of the hotel seating themselves at the breakfast-table, and Mr. Chitty pre- ing himself to read the commencement of the most glorious rama ever yet submitted to the inspection and opinion of individuals #0 capable of judging of its merits as the aforesaid audience. It was, indeed, a beautiful sight—Mr. Pickwick engaged in the devastation of and muffins, an example that was imitated by his friends to the very life—and the poet, his “eye” (for the other was frequentl invisible) ‘‘ in a fine frenzy rolling,” ensconced in the easy chair with the mystic papers in his hands! When the audience was all attention, Mr. Chitty opened the first leaf of his book, and began as follows :— “THE CREATION, A DRAMA.”’ He then turned over another leaf, and read the title-page :— “THE CREATION, A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS, BY SEPTIMUS CHITTY, ESQ., Author of divers Poems, Professor of Latin, &e.”’ The Poet took breath once more, turned over another leaf, and con- tinued in the ensuing manner :— “THE CREATION. DRAMATIS PERSON2. The Four Winds. Chaos. The Spirits of the Earth, the der, Fire, and Water. Man and Woman.” This page being thus disposed of, the next was immediately resorted to, and the author burst at once in medias res :— “THE CREATION, ACT I. SCENE, INFINITE SPACR.” “Eh!” said Mr. Pickwick, dubiously. ‘ Where did you say the scene was laid, Sir ?’ “In infinite space, to be sure,’ answered Mr. Chitty. “Capital idea, isn’t it ? Such a scene for stage effect !’’ ‘So I should think,” observed Mr. Pickwick, considerably en- lightened: ‘‘ but pray proceed.”’ ‘ST will,’ responded Mr. Chitty ; “et nudlus error—and no mis- take. —But where was I? Oh !— K 2 COL (©) DGoe SS (c@