Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 79 Mr. Tupman fortunately found Mr. Beozie still waiting for him in the vicinity of the house in‘which Madame de Volage rented apart- ments; and he could not do otherwise than compliment that gentle- man on his patience in thus waiting so long for a companion. “Why,” observed Mr. Boozie, ‘the fact is, that I should never have found the way back to Meurice’s hotel by myself: and as [ fancied that something extraordinary must be going on up stairs, you know—what a fib I’m telling, when I think of 1t—I1 never thought but once—yes, I did, though—I thought twice about you.and the young lady. Once I reflected whether she had red hair, or wore a ‘** Beautiful black hair!’ exclaimed Mr. Tupman, bis temper some- what ruffled by this latter observation. ‘* And, then,” continued Mr. Boozie, “ I began to reflect whether she could be a kept-mistress or a regular out-and-outer.” ‘¢ What, Sir!” cried Mr. Tracy Tupman in wrathful indignation. ‘“¢ She is a virtuous girl, Sir—a paragon of beauty, Sir—a phoenix of modesty-—a dragon of virtue—a Venus in charms—a Diana in chas- tity—a—a—Sir—”’ “T dare say I was telling an untruth,” interrupted Mr. Boozie, his large eyes squinting absolute rounds of beef at Mr. ‘Tracy Tupman, who thought he had never seen any thing more snug nor pleasant than the family circle he had just left. The two gentlemen, having thus reciprocally intimated the state of their feelings in so highly satisfactory and candid a manner, hastened to Meurice’s hotel with as much expedition as their very extensive topographical knowledge of Paris enabled them to adopt; and to their credit be it recorded, that in order to compass a distance of about two hundred and fifty yards, they did not, on this particular occasion, wander more than three quarters of a mile out of the direct line they ought to have pursued. As the Pickwickians and Mr. Boozie had agam determined upon dining at the table d’hote, and as Mr. ‘Tupman, like a faithful subordi- nate, deemed it prudent to acquaint his zreat leader with all his mo- tions and plans, he was under the necessity of seeking an interview with Mr. Pickwick just before the bell announced the magic hour at which the soup was usually placed upon the table. This opportunity was accordingly sought and effectually gained. “ My dear Pickwick,” began Mr. Tupman, with more than a maiden’s hesitation, when that interesting creature is about to inform her parent of a first love ;—“‘imy dear Pickwick—accident has caused me to dis- cover the most beautiful and faithful of her kind!” ‘‘ Indeed!” cried Mr. Pickwick, rubbing his hands with extreme delight. ‘‘'The female sex, too ?”’ «What other sex would you have me select?’ exclaimed the astonished Mr. Tupman. “Oh! she is so docile,’ continued the en- amoured swain ; ‘“‘ you might lead her with a string.”’ « Does she wear a collar, then?” enquired Mr. Pickwick, with a serious expression of countenance. ‘« Precaution against the unhallowed desires of —” “Of thieves, to be sure,” interrupted Mr. Pickwick, hastily. “I was foolish not to have thought of that.” EORMIC OOO KS5€©