Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

(90521 CHAPTER XXXVIII. A CHAPTER WHICH IS EXCEEDINGLY NECESSARY TO THESE ME- MOIRS, AND IN WHICH THE READER WILL PROBABLY FIND SOME AMUSEMENT. Mr.Picxwick had now many matters to occupy his attention. He was determined to interest himself in the behalf of the unhappy lady whose manuscript he had perused with feelings of such deep emo- tion; and he was not the less anxious to bring his own little love- affair with Mrs. Weston to a termination. He, however, deemed it prudent to inform his friends of his intended change of condition; and, with his usual prudence and forethought, he chose the propitious me- ment when both Mr. Tupman and Mr. Winkle were as sulky as two young bears, by reason of an insult which they had just before expe- rienced at the hands of a couple of drunken English grooms on the Boulevards. “I never was so insulted in my life,” cried Mr. Tupman, wiping away the perspiration from his very expressive countenance, ‘*'To be called such names, too!” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, throwing himself upon Mr. Pickwick’s sympathies and an easy chair. “What was it they said we were, Tupman?” ‘¢ D)——d scoundrels, I think,”’ was that gentleman’s reply **Infamous!”’ ejaculated Mr. Pickwick. ‘* But let us not reflect upon the petty evils of life,” continued this truly great man in his usual emphatic tone. ‘“*T’ve got such a terrible com on the little toe of my right foot,” observed Mr. Tupman, with a very wry face. “Use Wiggle’s Unadulterated Balm of the Carribee Islands,’ suggested Mr. Winkle, his countenance still flushed with the glow of indignation excited by the two drunken grooms aforesaid. | ‘* As I was saying,” continued Mr, Pickwick, “let us be above the petty evils of life. Great men despise the inebriate follies of their inferiors, and laugii at the anguish occasioned by tight boots and corns. My dear friends, I have something very important to communicate to you,” added Mr. Pickwick in a solemn tone of voice which made a deep impression upon the minds of his two auditors. _ © Nothing wrong, I hope,” cried Mr. Winkle, turning very pale. * Arabella and all quite well?” | ‘Your family, my young friend,” continued Mr. Pickwick, ‘is in perfect health. It is of myself that I wish to speak to you.” ‘| hope you don’t intend to return home yet, after what you said at Kallaway’s the other night,” cried Mr. Tupman. , “ No, Tupman,” was Mr. Pickwick’s answer; ‘‘ but I propose to make an important change in my condition.”’ “You won't leave off the black gaiters 2?” exclaimed Mr. Winkle in es ’ breathless anxiety. ‘Nor the tights 2” said Mr. Tupman, considerably alarmed. _“** Consider your reputation,” implored Mr. Winkle. “Which would be at stake without the tights,” added Mr. Tnpman, Y CORNICLOO© cS (C(O)