Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 9A expression of the most profound despair—and in the intense agony of the moment, he seized a glass of brandy and water which stood upon M. Cailliez’s desk, and drank off the contents withoutstopping. He then caught hold of a flat candlestick, and rushed wildly up to his bed-room, disgusted with himself, disgusted with the name of love, disgusted at the deceitfulness of the world, and discovering, when too late, that Mr. Pickwick’s advice was invariably founded upon a basis of rea- son and propriety that would docredit to any country and to any age. ~« Come in, Sam,” said Mr. Tupman on the following morning, when the attentive Mr. Weller knocked at his door, and was preparing to deposit thereat one of the mystic pots of hot water before alluded to: ‘come in, Sam--- pray do—come in.” “Vell, Sir,” observed that individual, acting as he was so solemnly adjured to do: ‘‘vot’s the next indictment, now, as the gen’leman remarked at the Old Bailey °” “Sam,” said Mr. Tupman, “I’m very—very miserable.” ‘“ Air you, indeed, Sir?” enquired Mr. Weller. ‘* An’ pray vot is it that may have caused sich a melan-cholly disposition on your part, Sir?” ‘‘ My feelings are too sensitive, Sam,”’ returned Mr. Tupman dole- fully.” ‘So the boy said, Sir,” observed Mr. Weller, ‘ven he bust out a- cryin’ on the oc-casion of his bein’ carried to the House o’ Cor-rection.” “TI have quarrelled with my old and revered friend, Pickwick,” con- tinued Mr. Tupman, heedless of Sam’s remarks; “and I don’t dare present myself to him till-~till—” ““ Ne-cessity is the nat’ral parent of in-wention, Sir, as the nobleman said ven he pawned his vatch,” interrupted Mr. Weller; ‘an’ if so be vou rek-vire a ambassador, as ull represent your case to his high and mightiness, I des-say that Samivel Veller, Esk-vire, vill not ob-ject to fill that ’ere capacity.” ‘Tell him, Sam,” exclaimed Mr. Tupman, enchanted with the idea, “tell him that I am ready to apologise for my conduct of yesterday afternoon, and that I hope he will think no more of the matter.” “ Weni, widi, wict !” remarked Mr. Weller to himself—(he had heard the German courier, who spoke all languages, make use of these words the day before)—‘‘ so here goes for another am-bassador pleni-poten- tiairy ;’-—and with all the importance of a diplomatic envoy, he pro- ceeded to execute the commission which Mr. Tupman had entrusted to his discretion. “T see you ain’t left your portable pocket Bible at home, Sir,” ob- served Mr. Weller to his master, when he had duly arranged the shaving apparatus, and was diving into the trunk in quest of a clean shirt. | “No, Sam,” said Mr Pickwick, taking off his night-cap, and putting on his spectacles; ‘‘ I never travel without it.”’ « Excellent book, that Bible, Sir,” remarked Mr. Weller after a short pause. ‘‘ Teaches von many admirayble maxims.” “So it does, Sam,” coincided Mr. Pickwick. ‘‘ Which do you think is the most instructive and the best calculated to make a good man ?” ’ ECORNICLOOOKS.6O =