 14 Comprising a brief description of the company of the peacock assembled, and a tale told by a bag-man. It is pleasant to term from contemplating the strife and turmoil of political existence to the peaceful repose of private life. Although in reality no great partisan of either side, Mr. Pickwick was sufficiently fired with Mr. Potts' enthusiasm to apply his whole time and attention to the proceedings of which the last chapter affords a description compiled from his own memoranda. Nor while he was thus occupied was Mr. Winkle idle, his whole time being devoted to pleasant walks and short country excursions with Mrs. Potts, who never failed, when such an opportunity presented itself, to seek some relief from the tedious monotony she so constantly complained of. The two gentlemen, being thus completely domesticated in the editor's house, Mr. Tubman and Mr. Snodgrass were in a great measure cast upon their own resources. Taking but little interest in public affairs, they beguiled their time chiefly with such amusements as the peacock afforded, which were limited to a bagatelle-board in the first floor, and a sequestered skittle-ground in the back-yard. In the science and nicety of both these recreations, which are far more obstruce than ordinary men suppose, they were gradually initiated by Mr. Weller, who possessed a perfect knowledge of such pastimes. Thus, notwithstanding that they were in a great measure deprived of the comfort and advantage of Mr. Pickwick's society, they were still enabled to beguile the time, and to prevent its hanging heavily on their hands. It was in the evening, however, that the peacock presented attractions which enabled the two friends to resist even the invitations of the gifted, though prosy, pot. It was in the evening that the commercial room was filled with a social circle whose character as a man as it was the delight of Mr. Tubman to observe, whose sayings and doings it was the habit of Mr. Snodgrass to note down. Those people know what sort of places commercial rooms usually are. That of the peacock differed in no material, the respect from the generality of such apartments, that is to say, it was a large, bare-looking room, the furniture which had no doubt been better when it was newer, with a spacious table in the centre, and a variety of smaller details in the corners, an extensive assortment of variously shaped chairs, and an old turkey carpet, bearing about the same relative proportion to the size of the room as a lady's pocket-hankerchief might to the floor of a watch-box. The walls were garnished with one or two large maps, and several weather-beaten, rough great-coats with complicated capes dangled from a long row of pegs in one corner. The mantle-shelf was ornamented with a wooden ink-stand containing one stump of a pen and half a wafer, a road-book and directory, a county history minus the cover, and the mortal remains of a trout in a glass coffin. The atmosphere was redolent of tobacco smoke, the fumes of which had communicated a rather dingy hue to the whole room, and more especially to the dusty red curtains which shaded the windows. On the side-board a variety of miscellaneous articles were huddled together, the most conspicuous of which were some very cloudy fish-sauce-cruits, a couple of driving-boxes, two or three whips, as many travelling shawls, a tray of knives and forks, and the mustard. Here it was that Mr. Tubman and Mr. Snodgrass were seated on the evening after the conclusion of the election, with several other temporary inmates of the house smoking and drinking. "'Well, gents,' said a stout, hail-personage of about forty, with only one eye, a very bright black eye which twinkled with a rugged expression of fun and good humour. "'Aren't noble selves, gents. I always propose that toast to the company, and drink Mary to myself. Hey, Mary!' "'Get along with you, you wretch,' said the ham-maiden, obviously not ill-pleased with a compliment however. "'Don't go away, Mary,' said the black-eyed man. "'Let me have an imprance,' said the young lady. "'Never mind,' said the one-eyed man, calling after the girl as she left the room. "'I'll step out by and by, Mary. Keep your spirits up, dear!' Here he went through the not very difficult process of winking upon the company with his solitary eye, to the enthusiastic delight of an elderly person with a dirty face and a clay pipe. "'Rum-greeters is women,' said the dirty-faced man, after a pause. "'Aren't am I to take about that?' said a very red-faced man, behind a cigar. After this little bit of philosophy there was another pause. "'There's rumber things than women in this world, though, mind you,' said the man, with the black eye, slowly filling a large dutch pipe with a most capacious bowl. "'Are you married?' inquired the dirty-faced man. "'Can't say I am.' "'I thought not.' Here the dirty-faced man fell into exorcises of mirth at his end retort, in which he was joined by a man of bland voice and placid countenance, who always made it a point to agree with everybody. "'Women, after all, gentlemen,' said the enthusiastic Mr Snodgrass, "'are the great props and comforts of our existence.' "'So they are,' said the placid gentleman. "'When they're in a good humour,' interposed the dirty-faced man. "'That's very true,' said the placid one. "'I repudiate that qualification,' said Mr Snodgrass, whose thoughts were fast reverting to Emily Wardle. "'I repudiate it with disdain, with indignation. Show me the man who says anything against women as women, and I boldly declare he is not a man.' And Mr Snodgrass took his cigar from his mouth and struck the table violently with his clenched fist. "'That's good sound argument,' said the placid man. "'Continue your position, which I deny,' interrupted he of the dirty countenance. "'And there's certainly a very great deal of truth in what you observe too, sir,' said the placid gentleman. "'Your health, sir,' said the bagman, with the lonely eye, bestowing an approving nod on Mr Snodgrass.' Mr Snodgrass acknowledged the compliment. "'I always like to hear a good argument,' continued the bagman. "'A sharp one like this, it's very improving. "'But this little argument about women brought to my mind, a story I have heard an old uncle of mine tell, and the recollection of which just now maybe say there were a rumour of things that meant to be met with sometimes.' "'I should like to hear that same story,' said the red-faced man with the cigar. "'Oh, should you?' was the ennui reply of the bagman, who continued to smoke with great vehemence. "'So should I,' said Mr Tubman, speaking for the first time. He was always anxious to increase his stock of experience. "'Should you?' "'Well then, I'll tell it.' "'No, I won't. I know you won't believe it,' said the man with the roguish eye, making that organ look more roguish than ever. "'If you say it's true, of course I shall,' said Mr Tubman. "'Well, upon that understanding, I'll tell you,' replied the traveller. "'Did you ever hear of the great commercial house of Bilsen and Slum? But it doesn't matter, though, whether you did or not, because they retired from business long since. It's eighty years ago, since the circumstances happened to a traveller of that house, but he was a particular friend of my uncle's, and my uncle told the story to me. It's a queer name, but he used to call it the Bagman's story, and he used to tell it something in this way. One winter's evening, about five o'clock, just as it began to grow dusk, a man at a gig might have been seen urging his tart horse along the road which leads across more bradowns in the direction of Bristol. I say he might have been seen, and I have no doubt he would have been, if anybody but a blind man had happened to pass that way. But the weather was so bad, and the night so cold and wet, that nothing was out but the water. And so the traveller jogged along in the middle of the road, lonesome and dreary enough. If any Bagman of that day could have caught sight of the little neck-or-nothing sort of gig with a clay-coloured body and red reels, and the vixenish, ill-tempered, fast-going bay mare, that looked like a cross between a butcher's horse and a tuppney-post off his pony, he would have known at once that this traveller could have been no other than Tom Smart, of the great house of Bilson and Slum and Catten Street City. However, as there was no Bagman to look on, nobody knew anything at all about the matter, and so Tom Smart and his clay-coloured gig with the red wheels and the vixenish-mare with the fast pace went on together, keeping the secret among them, and nobody was a bit the wiser. There are many pleasant places, even in this dreary world, than Marlborough Downs when it blows hard, and if you throw him beside a gloomy winter's evening, a marry and sloppy road, and a pelting fall of heavy rain, and try the effect by way of experiment in your own proper person, you will experience the full force of this observation. The wind blew, not up the road or done it, that's bad enough, but sheer across it, sending the rain slanting down like the lines they used to rule in the copy books at school to make the boys' slope well. For a moment it would die away, and the traveller would begin to delude himself into the belief that, exhausted with its previous fury, it quietly laid itself down to rest, when, whoo! he could hear it growling and whistling in the distance, onward it would come rushing over the hill-tops and sweeping along the plain, gathering sound and strength as it drew nearer, until it dashed with a heavy gust against horse and man, driving the sharp rain into their ears, and its cold, damp breath into their very bones, and past them it would scour far, far away with a stunning roar, as if in ridicule of their weakness and triumphant in the consciousness of its own strength and power. The bay-maire splashed away through the mud and water with drooping ears, ahead as if to express her disgust at this very un-gentlemanly behaviour of the elements, but keeping a good pace notwithstanding, until a gust of wind more furious than any that had yet assailed them, caused her to stop suddenly, and plant her four feet firmly against the ground to prevent her being blown over. It's a special mercy that she did this, for if she had been blown over, the vixenish-maire was so light, and the gig was so light, and Tom Smart such a light weighed into the bargain, that they must infallibly have all gone rolling over and over together until they reached the confines of earth, or until the wind fell, and in either case the probability is that neither the vixenish-maire nor the clay-coloured gig with the red wheels nor Tom Smart would ever have been fit for service again. Well, damn my straps and whiskers, says Tom Smart. Tom sometimes had an unpleasant lack of swearing. Damn my straps and whiskers, says Tom. If this ain't pleasant, blow me! You're very likely to ask me why, as Tom Smart had been pretty well blown already, he expressed this wish to be submitted to the same process again. I can't say. All I know is that Tom Smart said so. Or at least he always told my uncle he said so, and that's just the same thing. Blow me! says Tom Smart, and the mare made as if she were precisely of the same opinion. Cheer up, old girl! said Tom, patting the bay mare on the neck with the end of his whip. He won't do pushy-on such a night as this. The first times we come to will put out but. So the faster you go, the sooner it's over. So, oh, old girl, gently, gently. Whether the vixenish mare was sufficiently well acquainted with the tones of Tom's voice to comprehend his meaning, or whether she found it colder standing still than moving on, of course I can't say. But I can say that Tom had no sooner finished speaking, than she pricked up her ears and started forward at a speed which made the clay-colored gig rattle until you could have supposed every one of the red spokes were going to fly off the turret of the Marlborough Downs. And even Tom, whip as he could, couldn't stop or check her pace until she drew up of her own accord before a roadside in, on the right-hand side of the way, about half a quarter of a mile from the end of the Downs. Tom cast a hasty glance at the upper part of the house as he threw the reins to the hostler and stuck the whip in the box. It was a strange old place, built of a kind of shingle, inlaid, as it were, with cross-beams, with gabled top windows projecting completely over the pathway, and a low door with a dark porch, and a couple of steep steps leading down into the house, instead of the modern fashion of half a dozen shallow ones leading up to it. It was a comfortable looking place, though, for there was a strong, cheerful light in the bar window, which shed a bright ray across the road, and even lighted up the hedge on the other side. And there was a red flickering light in the opposite window, one moment but faintly discernible, and the next gleaming strongly through the drawn curtains, which intimated that a rousing fire was blazing within. Marking these little evidences with the eye of an experienced traveller, Tom dismounted with as much agility as his half-frozen limbs would permit, and entered the house. In less than five minutes' time, Tom was ensconced in the room opposite the bar, the very room where he'd imagined the fire blazing, before a substantial matter-of-fact roaring fire, composed of something short of a bushel of coals, and wood enough to make half a dozen decent gooseberry bushes, piled halfway up the chimney, and roaring and crackling with a sound that of itself would have warmed the heart of any reasonable man. This was comfortable, but this was not all. For a smartly dressed girl with a bright eye and a neat ankle was laying a very clean white cloth on the table. And as Tom sat with his slippered feet on the fender and his back to the open door, he saw a charming prospect of the bar reflected in the glass over the chimney-piece, with delightful rows of green bottles and gold labels, together with jars of pickles and preserves, and cheeses, and boiled hams, and rounds of beef, arranged on shelves in the most tempting and delicious array. Well, this was comfortable too, but even this was not all. For in the bar, seated at a tea at the nicest possible little table, drawn close up before the brightest possible little fire, was a buxom widow of somewhere around eight and forty or thereabouts, with a face as comfortable as the bar, who is evidently the landlady of the house, and the supreme ruler over all these agreeable possessions. There was only one drawback to the beauty of the whole picture, and that was a tall man, a very tall man, in a brown coat and bright basket-buttons, and black whiskers and wavy black hair, who was seated at the tea with the widow, and who it required no great penetration to discover, was in a fair way of persuading her to be a widow no longer, but to confer upon him the privilege of sitting down in that bar, for and during the whole remainder of the term of his natural life. Tom Smart was by no means of an irritable or envious disposition, but somehow or other the tall man with the brown coat and the bright basket-buttons did rouse what little gall he had in his composition, and did make him feel extremely indignant. The more especially, as he could now and then observe from his seat before the glass, certain little affectionate familiarities passing between the tall man and the widow, which sufficiently denoted that the tall man was as high in favour as he was in size. Tom was fond of hot punch. I may venture to say he was very fond of hot punch, and after he had seen the vixenish mare well fed and well littered down, and had eaten every bit of the nice little hot dinner which the widow tossed up for him with her own hands, he just ordered a tumble of its by way of experiment. Now, if there was one thing in the whole range of domestic art which the widow could manufacture better than another, it was this identical article, and the first tumbler was adapted to Tom Smart's taste with such peculiar nicety that he ordered a second with the least possible delay. Hot punch is a pleasant thing, gentlemen, an extremely pleasant thing under any circumstances, but in that snug old parlour before the roaring fire, with the wind blowing outside till every timber in the old house creaked again, Tom Smart found it perfectly delightful. He ordered another tumbler, and then another, I'm not quite certain whether he didn't order another after that, but the more he drank of the hot punch, the more he thought of the tall man. Confound his impotence, said Tom to himself. What business has he in that snug bar? Such an ugly villain, too, said Tom. If the widow had any taste, she might surely pick up some better fellow than that. Here, Tom's eye wandered from the glass on the chimney-piece to the glass on the table, and as he felt himself become gradually sentimental, he emptied the fourth tumbler of punch, and ordered a fifth. Tom Smart, gentlemen, had always been very much attached to the public line. It had long been his ambition to stand in a bar of his own in a green coat, knee cords, and tops. He had a great notion of taking the chair at convivial dinners, and he had often thought how well he could preside in a room of his own in the talking way, and what a capital example he could set to his customers in the drinking department. All these things passed rapidly through Tom's mind as he sat drinking the hot punch by the roaring fire, and he felt very justly and properly indignant that the tall man should be in a fair way of keeping such an excellent house, while he, Tom Smart, was as far off from it as ever. So, after deliberating over the last two tumblers whether he hadn't a perfect right to pick a quarrel with the tall man for having contrived to get into the good graces of the Bucksham widow, Tom Smart had last arrived at the satisfactory conclusion that he was a very ill-used and persecuted individual, and a better go to bed. Up a wide and ancient staircase the Smart girl preceded Tom, shading the chamber candle with her hand to protect it from the currents of air which in such a rambling old place might have found plenty of room to despot themselves in without blowing the candle out, but which did blow it out nevertheless. Thus affording Tom's enemies an opportunity of asserting that it was he and not the wind who extinguished the candle, and that while he pretended to be blowing it a light again, he was in fact kissing the girl. Be that as it may another light was obtained, and Tom was conducted through a maze of rooms and a labyrinth of passages to the apartment which had been prepared for his reception, where the girl baited him good night and left him alone. It was a good large room with big closets and a bed which might have served for a whole boarding school to say nothing of a couple of oaken presses that would have held the baggage of a small army. But what struck Tom's fancy most was a strange, grim-looking, high-backed chair carved in the most fantastic manner, with a flowered, bam-damask cushion and the round knobs at the bottom of the legs carefully tied up in red cloth, as if it had got the gout in its toes. Of any other queer chair Tom would only have thought it was a queer chair, and there would have been an end of the better. But there was something about this particular chair, and it he couldn't tell what it was so odd and so unlike any other piece of furniture he'd ever seen, that it seemed to fascinate him. He sat down before the fire and stared at the old chair for half an hour. Damn the chair! It was such a strange old thing he couldn't take his eyes off it. Well, said Tom, slowly undressing himself and staring at the old chair all the while, while stood with a mysterious aspect by the bedside. I never saw such a rum concern as that in my days. Very odd, said Tom, who got rather sage with the hot punch. Very odd. Tom shook his head with the air of profound wisdom and looked at the chair again. He couldn't make anything of it, though, so he got into bed, covered himself up warm, and fell asleep. In about half an hour Tom woke up with a start from a confused dream of tall men and tumblers of punch, and the first object that presented itself to his waking imagination was the queer chair. I won't look at it any more, said Tom to himself, and he squeezed his eyelids together and tried to persuade himself he was going to sleep again. No use. Nothing but queer chairs danced before his eyes, kicking up their legs, jumping over each other's backs, and playing all sorts of antics. I may as well see one real chair as two or three complete sets of false ones, said Tom, bringing out his head from under the bed-clothes. There it was, plainly discernible by the light of the fire, looking as provoking as ever. Tom gazed at the chair, and suddenly, as he looked at it, a most extraordinary change seemed to come over it. The carving of the back gradually assumed the lineaments an expression of an old, shriveled human face. The namask cushion became an antique flapped waistcoat. The round knobs grew into a couple of feet encased in red cloth slippers, and the whole chair looked like a very ugly old man of the previous century, with his arms a Kimbo. Tom set up in bed, and rubbed his eyes to dispel the illusion. No. The chair was an ugly old gentleman. And what was more, he was winking at Tom Smart. Tom was naturally a headlong, careless sort of dog, and he'd had five tumblers of hot punch into the bargain, so although he was a little startled at first, he began to grow rather indignant when he saw the old gentleman winking and leering at him with such an impudent air. At length he resolved that he wouldn't stand it, and as the old face still kept winking away as fast as ever, Tom said in a very angry tone, What the devil are you winking at me for? Because I like it, Tom Smart, said the chair, or the old gentleman, whichever you like to call him. He stopped winking though when Tom spoke, and began grinning like a superannuated monkey. How do you know my name, you nutcracker face? inquired Tom Smart, rather staggered, though he pretended to carry it off so well. Come, come, Tom, said the old gentleman. That's not the way to address solid Spanish mahogany. Dammy, you couldn't treat me with less respect if I was veneered. When the old gentleman said this, he looked so fierce that Tom began to grow frightened. I didn't mean to treat you with any disrespect, sir, said Tom in a much humbler tone that he had spoken in at first. Well, well, said the old fellow. Perhaps not. Perhaps not. Tom. Sir, I know everything about you, Tom. Everything. You're very poor, Tom. I certainly am, said Tom Smart, but how came you to know that? Never mind that, said the old gentleman. You're much too fond of punch, Tom. Tom Smart was just on the point of protesting that he hadn't tasted a drop since his last birthday, but when his eye encountered that of the old gentleman, he looked so knowing that Tom blushed and was silent. Tom, said the old gentleman, the widow is a fine woman, remarkably fine woman. Hey, Tom. Here the old fellow screwed up his eyes, cocked up one of his wasted little legs, and looked altogether so unpleasantly amorous that Tom was quite disgusting with the levity of his behaviour at his time of life, too. I am her guardian, Tom, said the old gentleman. Are you? inquired Tom Smart. I knew her mother, Tom, said the old fellow, and her grandmother. She was very fond of me. Made me this waistcoat, Tom. Did she? said Tom Smart. And these shoes, said the old fellow, lifting up one of the red cloth mufflers. But don't mention it, Tom. I shouldn't like to have it known that she was so much attached to me. It might occasion some unpleasantness in the family. When the old rascal said this, he looked so extremely impertinent. That as Tom Smart afterwards declared, he could have sat upon him without remorse. I've been a great favourite among the women in my time, Tom, said the profligate old debauchee. Hundreds of fine women have sat in my lap for hours together. What do you think of that, you dog? The old gentleman was proceeding to recount some other exploits of his youth, when he was seized with such a violent fit of creaking that he was unable to proceed. Just serves you right, old boy, thought Tom Smart, but he didn't say anything. Ah, said the old fellow, I'm a good deal troubled with this now. I'm getting old, Tom, and have lost nearly all my rails. I've had an operation before him, too. A small piece led into my back, and I found it a severe trial, Tom. I dare say you did, sir, said Tom Smart. However, said the old gentleman, that's not the point, Tom. I want you to marry the widow. Me, sir? said Tom. You, said the old gentleman. Bless your reverent locks, said Tom. He had a few scattered horse-hairs left. Bless your reverent locks, she wouldn't have me. And Tom sighed involuntarily, as he thought of the bar. Wouldn't she? said the old gentleman firmly. No, no, said Tom. There's somebody else in the window, a tall man, a confoundedly tall man, with black whiskers. Tom, said the old gentleman. She will never have him. Won't she, said Tom, if you stood in the bar, old gentleman, you'd tell another story. Said the old gentleman. I know all about that. About what, said Tom? The kissing behind the door, all that sort of thing, Tom, said the old gentleman. And here he gave another impudent look, which made Tom very rough, because as you all know, gentlemen, to hear an old fellow ought to know better, talking about these things, is very unpleasant. Nothing more so. I know all about that, Tom, said the old gentleman. I've seen it done very often in my time, Tom, between more people than I should like to mention to you. But it never came to anything after all. You must have seen some queer things, said Tom, with an inquisitive look. You may say that, Tom, replied the old fellow, with a very complicated wink. I am the last of my family, Tom, said the old gentleman, with a melancholy sigh. Was it a large one? inquired Tom Smart. Number twelve of us, Tom, said the old gentleman, fine, straight-backed, handsome fellows, as you wish to see. None of you have modern abortions, all with arms, and with a degree of polish. Though I say it that should not, which it would have done your heart good to behold. And what's become of the others, sir? asked Tom Smart. The old gentleman applied his elbow to his eyes, he replied. Gone, Tom. Gone. We had hard service, Tom, and they hadn't all my constitution. They got traumatic about the legs and arms, and went into kitchens and other hospitals, one of them, with long service and hard usage, possibly to have lost his senses. He got so crazy that he was obliged to be burned. Shocking thing that, Tom. Dreadful, said Tom Smart. The old fellow paused for a few minutes, apparently struggling with his feelings of emotion. And then said, Have a, Tom, I'm wandering from the point. This tall man, Tom, is a rascally adventurer. The moment he married the widow, he would sell off all the furniture and run away. What would be the consequence? She would be deserted and reduced to ruin. And I should catch my death of cold in some broker's shop. Yes, but don't interrupt me, said the old gentleman. Of you, Tom, I entertain a very different notion. For I well know that if you once settled yourself in a public house, you would never leave it, as long as there was anything to drink within its walls. I'm very much obliged to you for your good opinion, sir, said Tom Smart. Therefore, resumed the old gentleman at dictatorial tone, you shall have her, and he shall not. What is to prevent it? said Tom Smart, eagerly. This disclosure, replied the old gentleman. He is already married. How can I prove it? said Tom, starting half out of bed. The old gentleman untucked his arm from his side, and having pointed to one of the okon presses, immediately replaced it in its old position. He little thinks, said the old gentleman, that in the right-hand pocket of a pair of trousers in that press he is left a letter, in treating him to return to his disconsolate wife with six, Mark me, Tom, six babes, and all of them small ones. As the old gentleman solemnly uttered these words, his features grew less and less distinct in his figure more shadowy. A film came over Tom Smart's eyes. The old man seemed gradually blending into the chair, the damest waistcoat to resolve into a cushion, the red slippers to shrink into little red cloth bags. The light faded gently away, and Tom Smart fell back on his pillow, and dropped asleep. Morning aroused Tom from the lethargic slumber into which he had fallen on the disappearance of the old man. He sat up in bed, and for some minutes vainly endeavored to recall the events of the preceding night. Suddenly they rushed upon him. He looked at the chair. It was a fantastic and grim-looking piece of furniture, certainly, but it must have been a remarkably ingenious and lively imagination that could have discovered any resemblance between it and an old man. How are you, old boy? said Tom. He was bolder in the daylight. Most men are. The chair remained motionless and spoke not a word. Miserable morning, said Tom. No, the chair would not be drawn into conversation. Which press did you point to? You can tell me that, said Tom. Devil a word, gentlemen, the chair would say. It's not much trouble to open it anyhow, said Tom, getting out of bed very deliberately. He walked up to one of the presses. The key was in the lock. He turned it and opened the door. There was a pair of trousers there. He put his hand into the pocket, and drew forth the identical letter the old gentleman had described. Queer sort of thing this, said Tom Smart, looking first at the chair, and then at the press, and then at the letter, and then at the chair again. Very queer, said Tom. But as there was nothing in either to lessen the queerness, he thought he might as well dress himself and settle the tall man's business at once, just to put him out of his misery. Tom surveyed the rooms he passed through on his way downstairs, with the scrutinizing eye of a landlord, thinking it not impossible that, before long, they and their contents would be his property. The tall man was standing in the snug little bar with his hands behind him quite at home. He grinned vacantly at Tom. A casual observer might have supposed he did it only to show his white teeth. But Tom Smart thought that a consciousness of triumph was passing through the place where the tall man's mind would have been if he had had any. Tom laughed in his face and summoned the landlady. Good morning, ma'am, said Tom Smart, closing the door of the little parlour as the widow entered. Good morning, sir, said the widow. What would you take for breakfast, sir? Tom was thinking how he should open the case, so he made no answer. There's a very nice ham, said the widow, and a beautiful cold larded foul. Shall I send him in, sir? These words roused Tom from his reflections. His admiration of the widow increased as she spoke, thoughtful creature, comfortable provider. Who is that gentleman in the bar, ma'am? inquired Tom. His name is Jinkins, sir, said the widow, slightly blushing. He's a tall man, said Tom. He's a very fine man, sir, replied the widow, and a very nice gentleman. Ah, said Tom. Is there anything more you want, sir? Inquired the widow, rather puzzled by Tom's manner. Why yes, said Tom. My dear ma'am, would you have the kindness to sit down for one moment? The widow looked much amazed, but she sat down, and Tom sat down, too, close beside her. I don't know how it happened, gentlemen, indeed. My uncle used to tell me that Tom Smart said he didn't know how it happened, either. But somehow, rather, the palm of Tom's hand fell upon the back of the widow's hand, and remained there while he spoke. My dear ma'am, said Tom Smart, he'd always a great notion of committing the amiable. My dear ma'am, you deserve a very excellent husband. You do indeed. Law, sir! said the widow, as well as she might. Tom's mode of commencing the conversation being rather unusual, not to say startling, the fact of his never having set eyes upon her before the previous night being taken into consideration. Law, sir! I scorned to flatter, my dear ma'am, said Tom Smart. You deserve a very admirable husband, and whoever he is, he'll be a very lucky man. As Tom said this, his eye involuntarily wandered from the widow's face to the comforts around him. The widow looked more puzzled than ever and made an effort to rise. Tom gently pressed her hand as if to detain her, and she kept her seat. Widow, gentlemen, not usually timorous, as my uncle used to say. I'm sure I'm very much obliged to you, sir, for your good opinion, said the Buxom landlady, half- laughing, and whoever I marry again. If, said Tom Smart, looking very shrewdly out of the right-hand corner of his left eye, if—well, said the widow, laughing outright this time, when I do, I hope I shall have as good a husband as you describe. Jinkins to wid, said Tom. Laws, sir, exclaimed the widow. Oh, don't tell me, said Tom, I know him. I'm sure nobody who knows him knows anything bad of him, said the widow, bridling up at the mysterious air with which Tom had spoken. Hmm, said Tom Smart. The widow began to think it was high time to cry, so she took out her handkerchief, and inquired whether Tom wished to insult her, with he thought it like a gentleman to take away the character of another gentleman behind his back. Why, if he got anything to say, he didn't say it to the man, like a man, instead of terrifying a poor, weak woman in that way, and so forth. I'll say it to him fast enough, said Tom. Only I want you to hear it first. What is it? inquired the widow, looking intently in Tom's countenance. I'll ask an issue, said Tom, putting his hand in his pocket. If it is that he wants money, said the widow, I know that already, and you needn't trouble yourself. Ha, nonsense, that's nothing, said Tom Smart. I want money. Take that. Oh, dear, what can it be? exclaimed the poor widow. Don't be frightened, said Tom Smart. He slowly drew forth the letter, and unfolded it. You won't scream, said Tom doubtfully. No, no, replied the widow, let me see it. You won't go feinting away, or any of that nonsense, said Tom. No, no, return the widow hastily. And don't run out and blow him up, said Tom, because I'll do all that for you. You better not exert yourself. Well, well, said the widow, let me see it. I will, replied Tom Smart. And with these words he placed the letter in the widow's hand. Gentlemen, I have heard my uncle say that Tom Smart said the widow's lamentations which he heard the disclosure would have pierced a heart of stone. Tom was certainly very tender-hearted, but they pierced his to the very core. The widow rocked herself to and fro, and wrung her hands. Oh, the deception and villainy of the man, said the widow. Fightful, my dear man, but compose yourself, said Tom Smart. Oh, I can't compose myself, shrieked the widow. I shall never find anyone else I can love so much. Oh, yes you will, my dear soul, said Tom Smart, letting fall a char of the largest-sized tears impity for the widow's misfortunes. Tom Smart and the energy of his compassion had put his arm round the widow's waist, and the widow, in a passion of grief, had clasped Tom's hand. She looked up in Tom's face. And smiled through her tears. Tom looked down in hers, and smiled through his. I never could find out, gentlemen, whether Tom did or did not kiss the widow at that particular moment. He used to tell my uncle he didn't, but I have my doubts about it. Between ourselves, gentlemen, I rather think he did. At all events, Tom kicked the very tall man out at the front door half an hour later, and married the widow a month after. And he used to drive about the country, with the clay-cutted gig with the red wheels, and the vixenish mare with the fast pace, till he gave up business many years afterwards, and went to France with his wife, and then the old house was pulled down. Would you allow me to ask you, said the inquisitive old gentleman, what bit came of the chair? Why, replied the one-eyed bagman, it was observed to creak very much on the day of the wedding, but Tom Smart couldn't say for certain whether it was with pleasure or bodily infirmity. He rather thought it was the latter, for it never spoke afterwards, though. Everybody believed the story, didn't they? said the dirty-faced man, refilling his pipe. Except Tom's enemies, replied the bagman. Some of them said Tom invented it altogether. Another said he was drunk and fancied it, and got hold of the wrong trousers by mistake before he went to bed. But nobody ever minded what they said. Tom Smart said it was all true. Every word. And your uncle? Every letter. They must have been very nice men, both of them, said the dirty-faced man. Yes, they were, replied the bagman. Very nice men indeed. End of Chapter 14, recorded by Simon Evers. Chapter 15 of the Pickwick Papers. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please go to LibriVox.org. This recording by Patty Brugman. Chapter 15, in which is given a faithful portraiture of two distinguished persons and an accurate description of a public breakfast in their house and grounds, which public breakfast leads to the recognition of an old acquaintance and the commencement of another chapter. Mr. Pickwick's conscience had been somewhat reproaching him for his recent neglect of his friends at the peacock, and he was just on the point of walking forth in quest of them on the third morning after the election had terminated, when his faithful valet put into his hand a card on which was engraved the following inscription. Mrs. Leo Hunter, the Dan Eaton's Will. A person's awaited said Sam epigrammatically. Does the person want me, Sam, inquired Mr. Pickwick? He wants you particular, and no one else will do. As the devil's private secretary said, Venue Vetch de Ve, Dr. Faustus, replied Mr. Weller. He, is it a gentleman, said Mr. Pickwick? A wary imitation of one, if it ain't, replied Mr. Weller. But this is some lady's card, said Mr. Pickwick. Giving me by a gentleman house, however, replied Sam, and he's a waitin' in the drawing room, and he'd rather wait all day than not see you. Mr. Pickwick, on hearing this determination, descended to the drawing room, where sat a grave man who started up on his entrance and said with an air of profound respect, Mr. Pickwick, I presume. The same. Allow me, sir, the honor of grasping your hand. Permit me, sir, to shake it, said the grave man. Certainly, said Mr. Pickwick. The stranger shook the extended hand and then continued, We have heard of your fame, sir. The noise of your antiquarian discussion has reached the ears of Mrs. Leo Hunter, my wife, sir. I am Mr. Leo Hunter. The stranger paused as if he expected that Mr. Pickwick would be overcome by the disclosure, but seeing that he remained perfectly calm proceeded. My wife, sir, Mrs. Leo Hunter, is proud to number among her acquaintance of all those who have rendered themselves celebrated by their works and talents. Permit me, sir, to place in a conspicuous part of the list of the name of Mr. Pickwick and the brother-members of that club that derives its name from him. I shall be extremely happy to make the acquaintance of such a lady, sir, replied Mr. Pickwick. You shall make it, sir, said the grave man. Tomorrow morning, sir, we give a public breakfast, a fete chambre. To a great number of those who have rendered themselves celebrated by their works and talents, permit Mrs. Leo Hunter, sir, to have the gratification of seeing you at the den. With great pleasure, replied Mr. Pickwick. Mrs. Leo Hunter has many of these breakfasts, sir, resumed the new acquaintance. Feasts of reason, sir, and flows of soul, as somebody who wrote a sonnet to Mrs. Leo Hunter on her breakfasts, feelingly and originally observed. Was he celebrated for his works and talents, inquired Mr. Pickwick? He was, sir, replied the grave man. All Mrs. Leo Hunter's acquaintances are. It is her ambition, sir, to have no other acquaintance. It is a very noble ambition, said Mr. Pickwick. When I inform Mrs. Leo Hunter that that remark fell from your lips, sir. She will indeed be proud, said the grave man. You have a gentleman in your train who has produced some beautiful little poems, I think, sir. My friend, Mr. Snodgrass, has a great taste for poetry, replied Mr. Pickwick. So has Mrs. Leo Hunter, sir. She dotes on poetry, sir. She adores it. I may say that her whole soul and mind are wound up and intertwined with it. She has produced some delightful pieces herself. You may have met with her old to an expiring frog, sir. I don't think I have, said Mr. Pickwick. You astonish me, sir, said Mr. Leo Hunter. It created an immense sensation. It was signed with an L and eight stars and appeared originally in Lady's Magazine. It commenced. Can I view the panting lying on thy stomach without sighing? Can I unmoved see thee dying on a log expiring frog? Beautiful, said Mr. Pickwick. Fine, said Mr. Leo Hunter. So simple. Very, said Mr. Pickwick. The next verse is still more touching, shall I repeat it? If you please, said Mr. Pickwick. It runs thus, said the grave man, still more gravely. Say, have fiends in shape of boys with wild hallow and brutal noise hunted thee with marshy joys, with a dog expiring frog. Finally expressed, said Mr. Pickwick. All points, sir, said Mr. Leo Hunter. But you shall hear Mrs. Leo Hunter repeat it. She can do it justice, sir. She will repeat it in character, sir, tomorrow morning. In character? As manoeuvre. But I forgot it's a fancy dress, breakfast. Dear me, said Mr. Pickwick glancing at his own figure. I can't possibly. Cunt, sir, cunt, exclaimed Mr. Leo Hunter. Solomon Lucas, the Jew in High Street, has thousands of fancy dresses. Consider, sir, how many appropriate characters are open for your selection. Plato, Zeno, Epicurious, Pythagoras, all founders of clubs. I know that, said Mr. Pickwick. But as I cannot put myself in competition with those great men, I cannot presume to wear their dresses. The great man considered deeply for a few seconds and then said, On reflection, sir, I don't know whether it would not afford Mrs. Leo Hunter greater pleasure if her guests saw a gentleman of your celebrity in his own costume, rather than an assumed one. I may venture to promise an exception in your case, sir. Yes, I am quite certain that on behalf of Mrs. Leo Hunter, I may venture to do so. In that case, said Mr. Pickwick, I shall have great pleasure in coming. But I waste your time, sir, said the grave man, as if suddenly recollecting himself. I know its value, sir. I will not detain you. I may tell Mrs. Leo Hunter, then, that she may confidently expect you and your distinguished friends. Good morning, sir. I am proud to have beheld so imminent a personage, not a step, sir, not a word. And without giving Mr. Pickwick time to offer remonstrance or denial, Mr. Leo Hunter stalked gravely away. Mr. Pickwick took up his hat and repaired to the peacock, that Mr. Winkle had conveyed the intelligence of the fancy ball there before him. Mrs. Potts, going, were the first word with which he saluted his leader. Is she, said Mr. Pickwick? As Apollo, replied Mr. Winkle, only Potts objects to the tunic. Is he right? Is he quite right, said Mr. Pickwick? Yes. So she's going to wear a white satin gown with gold spangles. They hardly know what she's meant for, will they? inquired Mr. Snodgrass. Of course they will, replied Mr. Winkle indignantly. They'll see her liar, won't they? True, I forgot that, said Mr. Snodgrass. I shall go as a bandit, interposed Mr. Tutman. What, said Mr. Pickwick, with a sudden start, as a bandit, repeated Mr. Tutman mildly. You don't mean to say, said Mr. Pickwick, gazing with solemn sternness at his friend. You don't mean to say, Mr. Tutman, that it is your intention to put yourself into a green velvet jacket with a two-inch tail. Such is my intention, sir, replied Mr. Tutman warmly. And why not, sir? Because, sir, said Mr. Pickwick, considerably excited. Because you are too old, sir. Too old, exclaimed Mr. Tutman. And if any further ground of objection be wanting, continued Mr. Pickwick, you are too fat, sir. Sir, said Mr. Tutman, his face suffused with crimson glow. This is an insult. Sir, replied Mr. Pickwick in the same tone. It is not half the insult to you that your appearance in my presence in a green velvet jacket with a two-inch tail would be to me. Sir, said Mr. Tutman, you're a fellow. Sir, said Mr. Pickwick, you're another. Mr. Tutman advanced a step or two and glared at Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Pickwick returned the glare, concentrated into a focus by means of his spectacles, and breathed a bold defiance. Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Winkle looked on, petrified at beholding such a scene between two such men. Sir, said Mr. Tutman, after a short pause speaking in a low, deep voice, you have called me old. I have, said Mr. Pickwick, and fat. I reiterate the charge, and a fellow. So you are. There was a fearful pause. My attachment to your person, sir, said Mr. Tutman, speaking in a voice tremulous with emotion and tucking up his wristbands, meanwhile, is a great, very great, but upon that person I must take summer revengeance. Come on, sir, replied Mr. Pickwick, stimulated by the exciting nature of the dialogue, the heroic man actually threw himself into a paralactic attitude. Confidently supposed by the two bystanders to have been intended as a posture of defense. What, exclaimed Mr. Snodgrass, suddenly recovering the power of speech of which intense astonishment had previously bereft him, and rushing between the two, at an imminent hazard of receiving an application on the temple from each. What, Mr. Pickwick, with the eyes of the world upon you? Mr. Tutman, who, in common with us all, derives a luster from his undying name? For shame, gentlemen, for shame. The unwanted lines, which momentary passion had ruled in Mr. Pickwick's clear and open brow, gradually melted away as his young friend spoke, like the marks of a black-led pencil beneath the softening influence of India rubber. His countenance had resumed its usual benign expression, air he concluded. I have been hasty, said Mr. Pickwick, very hasty. Tutman, your hand. The dark shadow passed from Mr. Tutman's face as he warmly grasped the hand of his friend. I have been hasty, too, he said. No, no, interrupted Mr. Pickwick. The fault was mine. You will wear the green velvet jacket. No, no, replied Mr. Tutman. To oblige me, you will, resumed Mr. Pickwick. Well, well, I will, said Mr. Tutman. It was accordingly subtle that Mr. Tutman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass should all wear fancy dresses. Thus Mr. Pickwick was led by the very warmth of his own good feelings to give his consent to a proceeding from which his better judgment would have recoiled. A more striking illustration of his amiable character could hardly have been conceived even if the events recorded in these pages had been wholly imaginary. Mr. Leo Hunter had not exaggerated the resources of Mr. Solomon Lucas. His wardrobe was extensive, very extensive, not strictly classical perhaps, nor quite new, nor did it contain any one garment made precisely after the fashion of any age or time, but everything was more or less spangled. And what can be prettier than spangles? It may be objected that they are not adapted to the daylight, but everybody knows that they would glitter if there were lamps. And nothing can be clearer than that if people give fancy balls in the daytime, and the dresses do not show quite as well as they would by night, the fault lies solely with the people who give the fancy balls and is in no wise chargeable to the spangles. Such was the convincing reasoning of Mr. Solomon Lucas, and influenced by such arguments as Mr. Tubman, Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass engaged to array themselves in costumes which his taste and experience induced him to recommend as admirably suited to the occasion. A carriage was hired from the town arms for the accommodation of the Pikwikians, and a chariot was ordered from the same repository for the purpose of conveying Mr. and Mrs. Pot to Mrs. Leo Hunter's grounds, which Mr. Pot, as a delicate acknowledgement of having received an invitation had already confidently predicted in the Eaton's Will Gazette, would present a scene of varied and delicious enchantment, a bewildering corsocation of beauty and talent, a lavish and prodigal display of hospitality, above all, a degree of splendor softened by the most exquisite taste and adornment refined with perfect harmony, and the chastest good keeping, compared with which the fabled and gorgeousness of the Eastern fairyland itself would appear to be clothed in as many dark and murky colors as must be the mind of the splenatic and unmanly being who could presume to taint with the venom of his envy, the preparations making by the virtuous and highly distinguished lady at whose shine this humble tribute of admiration was offered. This last was a piece of biting sarcasm against the independent, who, in consequence of not having been invited at all, had been through four numbers affecting to sneer at the whole affair, in his very largest type with all the adjectives in capital letters. The morning came, it was a pleasant sight to behold, Mr. Tutman in full Brigand's costume with a very tight jacket, sitting like a pin cushion over his back and shoulders, the upper portion of his legs encased in the velvet shorts, the lower part thereof, swathed in complicated bandages, to which all Brigands are peculiarly attached. It was pleasing to see his open and ingenuous countenance, well mustachioed and corked, looking out from an open shirt collar, and to contemplate the sugarloaf hat decorated with ribbons of all colors, which he was compelled to carry on his knee, in as much as no known conveyance with the top to it would admit of any man's carrying it between his head and the roof. Equally humorous and agreeable was the appearance of Mr. Snodgrass in blue satin trunks and cloak, white silk tights and shoes, and Grecian helmet which everybody knows, and if they do not, Mr. Salmon Lucas did, to have been the regular, authentic, everyday costume of a troubadour from the earliest ages down to the time of their final disappearance from the face of the earth. All this was pleasant, but this was as nothing compared with the shouting of the populace when the carriage drew up behind Mr. Potts chariot, which chariot itself drew up at Mr. Potts door, which door itself opened and displayed the great pot, a coot-rid as a Russian officer of justice, with the tremendous knot in his hand, tastefully typical of the stern and mighty power of the Edensville Gazette, and the fearful lashings it bestowed upon public offenders. Bravo, shouted Mr. Tutman and Mr. Snodgrass from the passage when they beheld the walking allegory. Bravo, Mr. Prickwick was heard to exclaim from the passage. Ho, ho, roar, pot, shouted the populace. Amid these salutations, Mr. Potts, smiling with that kind of bland dignity, which sufficiently testified that he felt his power and knew how to exert it, got into the chariot. Then there emerged from the house Mrs. Potts, who would have looked very like Apollo if she hadn't had a gown on, conducted by Mr. Winkle, who in his light red coat could not possibly have been mistaken for anything but a sportsman if he had not borne equal resemblance to a general postman. Last of all came Mr. Prickwick, whom the boys applauded as loud as anybody, probably under the impression that his tights and gaiters were some remnants of the Dark Ages. And then the two vehicles proceeded toward Mrs. Leo Hunters, Mr. Weller, who was to assist in waiting, being stationed at the box of that in which his master was seated. Every one of the men, women, boys, girls and babies who were assembled to see the visitors in their fancy dresses, screamed with delight and ecstasy when Mr. Prickwick, with the brigand on one arm and the troubadour on the other, walked solemnly up the entrance. Never were such shouts heard as those which greeted Mr. Tutman's efforts to fix the sugar-loaf hat on his head by way of entering the garden in style. The preparations were on the most delightful scale, fully realising the prophetic pot's anticipation about the gorgeousness of eastern fairyland, and at once affording a sufficient contradiction to the malignant statements of the reptile independent. The grounds were more than an acre and a quarter in extent, and they were filled with people. Never was such a blaze of beauty and fashion and literature. There was the young lady who did the poetry in the Eatonsville Gazette, and the garb of Sultana, leaning upon the arm of a gentleman who did the review department, and who was appropriately habited in a field-martial's uniform. The boots accepted. There were hosts of these geniuses, and any reasonable person would have thought it an honour to meet them. But more than these were the half-dozen lions from London, authors, real authors who had written whole books and printed them afterwards, and here you might see them walking about like ordinary men, smiling and talking, and talking pretty considerable nonsense too. No doubt with the benign intention of rendering themselves intelligible to the common people about them. Moreover, there was a band of music in paste-board caps, for something in singers in the costume of their country, and a dozen hired waiters in the costume of their country, and very dirty costume too. And above all, there was Mrs. Leo Hunter in the character of Minerva, receiving the company and overflowing with pride and gratification at the notion of having called such distinguished individuals together. Mr. Pickwick, Mum, said a servant, as that gentleman approached the presiding goddess, with his hatch in his hand and the brigand and troubadour on either arm. What? Where? exclaimed Mrs. Leo Hunter, starting up in an affected rapture of surprise. Here, said Mr. Pickwick, is it possible that I have really the gratification of beholding Mr. Pickwick himself? Ejaculated Mrs. Leo Hunter. No other man, replied Mr. Pickwick, bowing very low. Permit me to introduce my friends, Mr. Tutman, Mr. Winkle, Mr. Snodgrass, to the authorists of the expiring frog. Very few people, but those who have tried to know what a difficult process it is to bow in green velvet smalls in a tight jacket and high crowned hat, or in blue satin trunks and white silks, or knee cords and top boots that were never made for the wearer, and have been fixed upon him without the remotest reference to the comparative dimensions of himself and the suit. Never were such distortions, as Mr. Tutman's frame, underwent in his efforts to appear easy and graceful. Never was such ingenious posturing as his fancy-dressed friends exhibited. Mr. Pickwick, said Mrs. Leo Hunter, I must make you promise not to stir from my side the whole day. There are hundreds of people here that I must positively introduce you to. You are very kind, ma'am, said Mr. Pickwick. In the first place, here are my little girls. I had almost forgotten them, said Minerva, carelessly pointing toward a couple of full-grown young ladies, of whom one might be about twenty and the other a year or two older, and who were dressed in very juvenile costumes, whether to make them look young or their mama look younger. Mr. Pickwick does not distinctly inform us. They are very beautiful, said Mr. Pickwick, as the juveniles turned away after being presented. They are very like their mama, sir, said Mr. Pot majestically. Oh, you naughty man! exclaimed Mrs. Leo Hunter, playfully tapping the editor's arm with her fan, Minerva with a fan. Why now, my dear Mrs. Hunter, said Mr. Pot, who was trumpeter in ordinary at the den. You know that when your picture was in the exhibition of the Royal Academy last year, everybody inquired whether it was intended for you or your youngest daughter. For you were so much alike that there was no telling the difference between you. Well, if they did, why need you repeat it before strangers? said Mrs. Leo Hunter, bestowing another tap on the slumbering lion of the Eatonswell Gazette. Count, count! screamed Mrs. Leo Hunter to a well-whiskered individual in a foreign uniform who was passing by. Oh, you want me? said the Count, turning back. I want to introduce two very clever people to each other, said Mrs. Leo Hunter. Mr. Pickwick, I have great pleasure in introducing you to Count Smalltorque. She added in a hurried whisper to Mr. Pickwick, the famous foreigner gathering materials for his great work on England. Count Smalltorque, Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Pickwick saluted the Count with all the reverence due to so great a man, and the Count drew forth a set of tablets. What say you, Mrs. Hunt? inquired the Count, smiling graciously on the gratified Mrs. Leo Hunter. Hick-vig or pig-vig? What you call lawyer, eh? I see that it is big-vig. And the Count was proceeding to enter Mr. Pickwick in his tablets as a gentleman of the long robe. They derived his name from the profession to which he belonged when Mrs. Leo interposed. Oh, no Count, said the lady. Pick-vig! I, I see, replied the Count, pick Christian name, wicks sir name. Good there, good, pick wicks. How do you do wicks? Well, quite well. I thank you, replied Mr. Pickwick, with all his usual affability. Have you been long in England? Very long, the long time, fortnight more. Do you stay here long? One week. You will have enough to do, said Mr. Pickwick, smiling, to gather all the materials you want in that time. Oh, they are gathered, said the Count. Indeed, said Mr. Pickwick. They are here, added the Count, tapping his forehead significantly. Large book at home, full of notes, music, picture, science, poetry, politic, all things. The word politics, sir, said Mr. Pickwick, comprises in itself a difficult study of no inconsiderable magnitude. All, said the Count, drawing out the tablets again, far good, fine words to begin a chapter. Chapter 47, politics. The word politics surprises by himself. And down went Mr. Pickwick's remark in Count's small torques tablets, with such variations in additions as the Count's exuberance fancy suggested of his imperfect knowledge of the language occasioned. Count, said Mrs. Leo Hunter. Mrs. Hunt, replied the Count. This is Mr. Snodgrass, a friend of Mr. Pickwick's, and a poet. Stop, exclaimed the Count, bringing out the tablets once more. Head, poetry, chapter, literary, friends, name, Snograss, very good. Introduced to Snograss, great poet, friend of Peek-Weef, by Mrs. Hunter, which wrote other sweet poems. What is the name? Fog, perspiring Fog. Very good, very good indeed. And the Count put up his tablets, and with sundry boughs and acknowledgments walked away, thoroughly satisfied that he had made the most important and valuable addition to his stock of information. Wonderful man, Count's small torque, said Mrs. Leo Hunter. Sound philosopher, said Mr. Pot. Clare headed strong-winded person, added Mr. Snodgrass. A course of bystanders took up the shout of Count's small torques' praise, shook their heads sagely and unanimously cried, Very! As the enthusiasm in Count's small torques' favor ran very high, his praises might have been sung until the end of the festivities if the four or something and singers had not ranged themselves in front of a small apple tree to look picturesque, and commenced singing their national songs, which appeared by no means difficult to execution, inasmuch as the grand secret seemed to be that three of the something and the singers should grunt while the fourth howled. This interesting performance, having concluded amidst the loud plaudits of the whole company, a boy, forthwith proceeding to entangle himself with the rails of a chair, and to jump over it and crawl under it and fall down with it and do everything but sit upon it, and then to make a cravat of his legs and tie them round his neck, and then to illustrate the ease with which a human being can be made to look like a magnified toad, or which feats yielded high delight and satisfaction to the assembled spectators. After which the voice of Mrs. Potts was heard to chirp faintly forth, something which courtesy interrupted into a song, which was all very classical and strictly in character because Apollo was himself a composer, and to composers can very seldom sing their own music or anybody else's either. This was succeeded by Mrs. Leo Hunter's recitation of her far famed ode to an expiring frog, which was encored once and would have been encored twice if the major part of the guests who thought it was high time to get something to eat had not said that it was perfectly shameful to take advantage of Mrs. Leo Hunter's good nature. So although Mrs. Leo Hunter professed her perfect willingness to recite the ode again, her kind and considerate friends wouldn't hear of it on any account, and the refreshment room being thrown open, all the people who had ever been there before scrambled in with all possible dispatch. Mrs. Leo Hunter's usual course of proceeding being to issue cards for a hundred and breakfast for fifty, or in other words to feed only the very particular lions and let the smallest animals take care of themselves. Well, as Mr. Potts said Mrs. Leo Hunter as she placed the aforesaid lions around her. Here I am, said the editor, from the remotest end of the room far beyond all hope of food, unless something was done for him by the hostess. Won't you come up here? Oh, pray don't mind him, said Mrs. Potts in the most obliging voice. You'll give yourself a great deal of unnecessary trouble, Mrs. Hunter. You'll do very well there, won't you, dear? Certainly, love replied the unhappy Potts with a grim smile. Alas for the knot. The nervous arm that wielded with such gigantic force in public characters was paralyzed beneath the glance of the imperious Mrs. Potts. Mrs. Leo Hunter looked around her in triumph. Count Smalltorque was busily engaged in taking notes of the contents of the dishes. Mr. Topman was doing the honors of the lobster salad to several lionesses with a degree of grace which no brigand ever exhibited before. Mr. Snodgrass, having cut out the young gentleman who cut up the books for the Eatonsville Gazette, was engaged in an impassioned argument with the young lady who did the poetry. And Mr. Pickwick was making himself universally agreeable. Nothing seemed wanting to render the select circle complete when Mrs. Leo Hunter, whose department on these occasions was to stand about in doorways and talk to the less important people, suddenly called out. My dear, here's Mr. Charles Fitzmartial. Oh dear, said Mrs. Leo Hunter, how anxiously I have been expecting him. Pray make room to let Mr. Fitzmartial pass. Tell Mr. Fitzmartial, my dear, to come up to me directly to be scolded for coming so late. Coming, my dear ma'am, cried a voice as quick as I can. Crowds of people, full room, hard work, very. Mr. Pickwick's knife and fork fell from his hand. He stared across the table at Mr. Topman, who had dropped his knife and fork and was looking, as if he were about to sink into the ground without further notice. Oh! cried the voice as its owner pushed his way among the last five and twenty Turks, officers, Cavaliers, and Charles the Seconds, that remained between him and the table. Regular mangled baker's patent, not a crease in my coat after all this squeezing, might have got up my linens as I came along. Ha! not a bad idea that queer thing to have it mangled when it's upon one, though. Trying process and very. With these broken words a young man dressed as a naval officer made his way up to the table and presented to the astonished Pickwickians the identical form and features of Mr. Alfred Jingle. The offender had barely time to take Mrs. Leo Hunter's pro-offered hand when his eyes encountered the indignant orbs of Mr. Pickwick. Hello, said Jingle. Quite forgot. No directions to Pastillion. Give him at once. Back in a minute. The servant or Mr. Hunter will do it in a moment, Mr. Fitzmartial, said Mrs. Leo Hunter. No, no, I'll do it, shan't belong, back in no time, replied Jingle. With these words he disappeared among the crowd. Will you allow me to ask you, ma'am? said the excited Mr. Pickwick, rising from his seat, who that young man is and where he resides. Here's a gentleman, our fortune, Mr. Pickwick, said Mrs. Leo Hunter, to whom I very much want to introduce you. The count will be delighted with him. Yes, yes, said Mr. Pickwick hastily. His residence is at present of the angel Atbury. Atbury? Atbury St. Edmunds, not many miles from here. But dear me, Mr. Pickwick, you're not going to leave us. Surely, Mr. Pickwick, you cannot think of going so soon. But long before Mrs. Leo Hunter had finished speaking, Mr. Pickwick had plunged through the throng and reached the garden, whether he was shortly afterward joined by Mr. Tuttman, who had followed his friend closely. It's of no use, said Mr. Tuttman, he has gone. I know it, said Mr. Pickwick, and I will follow him. Follow him, will you? inquired Mr. Tuttman. To the angel atbury, replied Mr. Pickwick, speaking very quickly. How do we know whom he is deceiving there? He deceived a worthy man once, and we were the innocent cause. He shall not do it again, if I can help it. I'll expose him. Where's my servant? Here you are, said Mr. Weller, emerging from a sequestered spot, where he had been engaged in discussing a bottle of Madeira, which he had abstracted from the breakfast table an hour or two before. Here's your servant, sir, proud of the title, as the living skeleton said when they showed him. Follow me instantly, said Mr. Pickwick. Tuttman, if I stay atbury, you can join me there when I write. Till then, goodbye. Remonstrances were useless. Mr. Pickwick was roused, and his mind was made up. Mr. Tuttman returned to his companions, and in another hour had drowned all his present recollections of Mr. Alfred Jingle, or Mr. Charles Fitzmartial, in an exhilarating quadril and a bottle of champagne. By that time, Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller perched on the outside of a stagecoach, where every succeeding minute placing a less and less distance between themselves and the good old town of Burry St. Edmunds. End of Chapter 15