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 Abroad. 259 trouble of repeating Mr. Pickwick’s exclamation: “‘ you may say that with gow own pretty mouth—” y young woman!” cried Mr. Pickwick, fearful that some sinister design was concealed by this direct compliment. ‘* How do you know I’m a good young ’ooman, pray ?’”” demanded the girl in a threatening manner: then suddenly changing her tone into the most bland and dulcet notes, she continued, ‘‘ yes—it is, in- deed, Sir, a very hot day—and you had better walk in a moment till Mr. Chitty comes home. He won't be long, I know, Sir.” This assertion was perfectly consonant with truth; for a footete upon the stair, which already caught the girl’s ear, now fell upon the tympanum of Mr. Pickwick, and in another moment the head of the poet made its appearance above the landing-place. The head was followed by the body, and the body by the legs ; so that in process of time an entire poet stood in the presence of the great man. “Well—hoe genus est—this is kind!’’ exclaimed Mr. Septimus Chitty, grasping his friend’s hand with considerable warmth. ‘* But I saw Tupman and the others down below, as I returned home; so hastened up stairs to join you.” “You saw them in a green britzka,” said Mr. Pickwick, with a smile: “did you not ?” , ‘“* No, I didn’t,” returned Mr. Chitty. ‘‘ They were all in the wine shop o posite.” ‘“‘Indeed, I suppose they felt thirsty,” observed Mr, Pickwick. “‘ But my servant was of course at his post ?” ‘“‘ He was leaning against one, if that’s what you mean,” said Mr. Chitty, ‘“‘and watching a fight between two little boys. He assured me, az I passed, that it beat cock-fighting—galls pugnantes—and in- vited me to be umpire.” **Oh! oh!” cried the veteran traveller, his countenance assuming a stern aspect; “it is time for us to go, Chitty, my friend—you must accompany us.”’ “‘ Where to?” enquired that gentleman. ‘*To a pleasant place, where we shall amuse ourselves and have a. good dinner,” explained Mr. Pickwick. “ Vester homo sum—I am your man,” said Mr. Chitty ; and flav- ing consigned a mysterious roll of papers, which Mr. Pickwick strongly suspected to be the ‘‘ Creation,” to his hand-maid, the poet followed his friend down stairs. The battle between the two boys being concluded, Mr. Weller was induced to leave one post to attend to the duties of another; and Mr, Tupman, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Winkle haying been fetched from the wine-shop whither they had adjourned on the suggestion of the sys- tematic gentleman, ‘just to take a damp at starting,” as they very roperly expressed themselves, the party prepared to occupy the britzka. Mr. Walker was the first to ensconce himself in the mterior thereof, an example that Mr. Chitty was about to follow, when he was some- what unceremoniously stopped by Mr. Samuel Weller. : ‘Now, then, Chitty, you get out o’ the shay,’ exclaimed that. faithful functionary: “‘ your name ain’t down in the vay-bill for the inside; fust come, fust served, as the boatswain said ven the mer yos: brought up to be flogged.” 5 9 COL (a) DGe SS (c@