Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

200 Pickwick Abroad. ‘* Ah!” responded Mr. Pickwick in the same low tone. ‘* Tupman did not forget the music, then. But let them wait, Sam, till supper- time.”’ ‘‘ Wery good, Sir,” said Mr. Weller, approvingly. ‘*T suppose Mr. Winkle took care to see about the supper, Sam— did a not? for I myself couldn’t interfere,” continued Mr. Pick- wick. ‘Right as a trivet, Sir,” returned Mr. Weller. ‘‘ There ain’t no turtle—and there ain’t no wenson ; but there’s as tidy a little spread as ever von ’ud vish for to see.” “That will do, Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, whose expressive counte- nance beamed with philanthropy and satisfaction. , , ‘‘ Don’t you be afeerd, Sir,”’ rejoined Mr. Weller: ‘ I’m vide avake, as the sumnambalist said ven his nose come in contect vith the door- post ;—and with these words, Mr. Weller hastened to arrange the ‘ two card-tables,.upon which he placed the necessary packs and the smal] quantities of markers for a couple of rubbers of whist. Havin thus obeyed his master’s directions, he smiled significantly for the behoof of Mr. Winkle to intimate that the supper was getting on to his entire satisfaction, and then retired to the kitchen to drink a social glass of brandy-and-water with the two fiddles and the drum. Two rubbers of whist were speedily arranged under the auspices of Mr. Pickwick; and the gentlemen accordingly took their seats at the card-tables, at the first of which Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman had to play against Mr. Peacock and Mr. Brandenbergh, while Mr. Scuttle and Mr. Chitty were the antagonists of Mr. Walker and Mr, Winkle at the second. No Panorama, Diorama, Georama, or Neorama, was ever more truly beautiful and attractive than the scene which was now presented by the drawing-room in which the above-named gentlemen were seated ; and the good understanding that appeared to exist be- tween Messieurs Peacock and Brandenbergh, especially as they were not opposed to each other, was not the least amusing and remarkable portion of the entertainment. Certain it is that they both held their cards in so awkward a manner, that if they had chosen to look into each other’s hands, and they very likely did, the result of the game could not long remain a mystery. ‘* Bené lusus—well played,” exclaimed Mr. Chitty. ‘‘ So, seinde via—cut away, and let us have another rubber before supper.” ‘‘That was a part of your system, it seems,” observed Mr. Hook Walker. ‘*T played it in a fit of absence, and by mistake,’ modestly replied Mr. Scuttle, as he seized hold of Mr. Winkle’s hand to snuff the candle with that gentleman’s fingers, a mistake which, when disco- vered, was heartily laughed at. ‘©T don’t know how you are getting on there,’’ said Mr. Pickwick, casting a glance of benevolence and philanthropy at the second table; ‘¢ but } and Tupman have as yet lost every rubber.” ‘¢Qdd—this run of luck, isn’t it, old fellow?’ demanded Mr. Peacock, in a tone of modest appeal to his friend Brandenbergh, as if there were really any thing extraordinary in the several! results of the games. “Very,” said Mr. Brandenbergh, as he took a pretty long survey q) COL DGoe (c@