Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 370: what you’re looking at

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

(307°) CHAPTER XXXVII. MR. KALLAWAYS COTTAGE IN THE ENVIRONS OF PARIS.—MR. KALLAWAY GIVES A SUPPER-PARTY.—MR. TUPMAN MEETS WITH A LUDICROUS ADVENTURE.—MR, SCUTTLE AND MR.-KALLAWAY'S DISCOURSE, WITH VARIOUS OTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS Turn we once again to the lana in which we have left the prin- cipal heroes of these remarkable memoirs. In that unfashionable part of Paris, which is approached by the Faubourg du Roule, and which is denominated the Batignolles, was a neat cottage on the very outskirts of the city. Cottages are usually considered to be very little houses, in the same way as they are supposed to be the abode of happiness and contentment, by all except those who live inthem. But the cottage, of which we are now speaking, was a tolerably-sized eight-roomed house; built somewhat in the English fashion: the will and taste of its proprietor had alone designated it as acottage. It had a large garden attached to it—it was guarded by a dog not bigger than a moderately-sized donkey—it was embellished by a luxuriant grape-vine without—and its mternal decoration, independent of the furniture, was a widower of forty. Mr. Kallaway—such was the gentleman’s name—reared his own poultry, fattened his own pigs, fed his own ducks, rode his own pony, bottled his own wine, and cultivated his own garden. The domestic duties of his establishment devolved upon a couple of cherry-cheeked, plump damsels, who had migrated fromthe south of France some few years previously; and who, on their arrival in Paris, immediately found situations and wages in the cottage inhabited by Mr. Kallaway. Mr, Kallaway himself was once a large farmer and grazier in the | west of England: but ‘‘agricultural distress and commercial embar- rassments’’ suddenly deprived him of nearly all his possessions; and he retired to the Continent with the small competency which the wrecks of his fortune enabled him to realize. In person he was of tolerably decent appearance—about the middle height—with florid complexion—sandy whiskers, and light hair—good teeth—and a laughing blue eye. He was of a gay and lively disposition, frank and open in his manner, and generous in his nature. Such is the gentleman who resolved upon giving a supper to some ofhis English acquaintances; and as he was not over-burdened with friends or visitors at any time, he requested his friend Mr. Scuttle to issue the cards of invitation for him. This demand was of course complied with; and at seven o’clock one fine evening, a party of about five-and-twenty people were sauntering in the garden at the back of Mr. Kallaway’s house. There were equal numbers, as nearly as might be, of ladies and gentlemen. Amongst the former were Mrs. Weston and halfa dozen of her female friends; and amongst the latter might be seen the illustrious forms of Messrs. Pickwick, Tupman, Winkle, Walker, Chitty, Siffkin, and Scuttle. Such a galaxy of bright names never before embellished a back-garden. _ When the host had been duly presented to all his guests, or his X 2 CORNICLOO© eS) (C(O)