Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

312 Pickwick Abroad. Mr. Tracy Tupman, when we assure our readers that his courage forsook him at the same time that the pretty servant quitted the stable. Fortunately for him, there was a large heap of turf close by the trap; and having discovered it, so soon as his eyes became familiar with the various s objects m the loft, he seated himself upon it in a state of mind bordering on despair. | “What!” thought he: “ an oes member of the late famous club, to be caught in a rat-trap! one of the greatest travellers the world ever produced, to be seated on a heap of turf, with his right leg in the most painful jeopardy ! Impossible !”’ It was, however, very possible, and very true; for there sat Tracy Tupman, Esq., in the most vile durance ever experienced by an inno- cent man. In the meantime Mr. Kallaway had successfully broken the ice at Mr. Scuttle’s feet; so that the latter gentleman had only to walk into the pond; or in other words, the ex-grazier had broached the inter- esting subject before alluded to. And this is the way he did it. ‘* You seem very much a prey to your perpetual absence of mind, | my dear friend,” said Mr. Kallaway. “* Yes, Kallaway,” returned Mr. Scuttle, “I wanta great deal of taking care of.”’ ‘““You_do indeed,” continued the former, who had thus obtained the cue he required. ‘‘ And your niece must be often vel much alarmed at the recurrence of those fits, which—”’ ‘‘ True,” said Mr. Scuttle, “for some of them are exceedingly dangerous. It was but the other day, that as 1 was preparmg to carve a leg of mutton at dinner, I put my spectacles upon the meat, and was going to apply the knife and fork to my eyes. Luckily, Mrs. | W. seized hold of my hand in time; or else I might have done myself an injury.” ‘*You might, indeed,” returned Mr. Kallaway; ‘‘ and how such occurrences must shock your poor niece! If she were married, it would bea different thing: she would then have a husband to take care of both her and you—” ‘“‘Gad! that’s true,’”’ ejaculated Mr. Scuttle. : ‘* A husband who would love and cherish her, and attend to all your little comforts,” pursued Mr. Kallaway. “ One, in fine who would be a companion to you, and a protector for your niece.’ ‘The thing really sounds well,” said Mr. Scuttle, a slight suspicion that his friend was talking in behalf and for the behoof of himself having entered his mind; and he more than half resolved to cut short the matter at once by assenting on the spot to the union af Mrs. So- phia Weston and Mr. Peter Kallaway. ‘The fact is,” continued Mr. Kallaway, delighted to see that his hints were so well received, and not for one moment deeming that their purport had been misinterpreted ; the fact is, that Pickwick has already spoken to me—”’ ‘Oh! he has mentioned the subject also, has he 2” interrupted Mr. Scuttle. “° Pickwick is a good fellow, and, I dare say, feels anxious for our welfare.”’ ‘¢ He does, indeed,” said Mr. Kallaway emphatically. “And he has doubtless thought that my niece would be happier Comicidooks: co