Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroad. 187 tiny morsel” of.thia fowl—and that pigeon—and those preserves—and the tart at the farther end of the table—and the pine-apple opposite the lady in the pmk gown—and the oranges between the Italian Countess and the German Baroness. To run after twelve dishes be- came a second edition, considerably revised and improved, of the twelve labours of Hercules. Mr. Pickwick vas shortly summoned, through the medium of an intimation on the part of Mr. Scuttle, to attach himself as the favoured satellite to the sphere occupied by Mrs. Weston; and as that lady was more intent upon provi for the comforts of her guests, than for her own, Mr. Pickwick's office was not a very arduous one. Indeed, ‘ne fas since declared that it Pak not without its ‘thy aa r. Scuttle himself, in a moment of the most preisewo gallantry, entered upon the undisputed task of ministering to an aged iad? whose auricular powers were none of the clearest; and it is but due to her extreme patience and good-humour to mention, that when. Mr. Scuttle, in a momentary it of ecnce, laid. the whole of a cold partridge upon her plate instead of helping her to the wing of a fow P hich che had requested, not a murmur of disapprobation escaped her lips. Nor Jess did the excellent and kind-hearted old lady dis- pose of the nine piaases of Madeira which her cavalier, in the same strain of mental aberration, poured out for her. ‘ At length the ladies rose from the table, and retired to the music- room; and then the gentlemen occupied the seats thus desirably re- hnquished to them. Mr. Scuttle ordered in a fresh supply of wine; and to judge by the manner in which the German Count, Mr. Septi- mus Chitty, and a few others commenced theix attack upon the viandg, one would have thought that the suppex was the town of Antwerp, and the guests the French soldiers conducting the siege. The clock had already struck one, when Mr. Pickwick thought of retiring. He intimated his intention to Mr. Winkleand Mr. Septimus Chitty, the latter gentleman having kept near our two illustrious heroes since supper-time ; and they all three accordingly hastened to take leave of their kind host and hostess. Mrs. Weston bowed po- litely to Mr. Winkle and the poet; but she extended her hand to Mr. Pickwick, and it struck that gentleman that a slight pressure of the fingers on the part of the widow expressed her satisfaction at having formed his acquaintance. He therefore bestowed upon her one of his most benevolent smiles, and when he had gone through the same ceremony with Mr. Scuttle, withdrew from the apartment, followed by Mr. Winkle and Mr. Chitty. The night—or rather the morning—was fine; and as the three gen- tlemen were possessed of as many great-coats, they did not think it worth while to hire a hackney-coach. As they passed up the Rue Taitbout, Mr, Pickwick’s attention was attracted by a phenomenon for an explanation of which he was obliged to refer to the votary of the Muses. On the fifth story ofa house which they passed as they pro- ceeded towards the Boulevards, a man was hanging half-way out of a window, playing the violin as if he were insane, and bawling at the very top of his voice the figures of a dance—“‘ Chaine Anglaise” — “en avant deux’ — queue du chat,” &c., &c.; and, after each, vociferation, he played away more furiously than ever. CO stor q) SS (c@