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Elisha Cuthbert Photos Books: Martin Eden The Pickwick Papers The Sea Wolf |
I feel bound to maintain, and I therefore,
without inquiry, accepted the challenge which you offered me.
My dear Sir, said the good-humoured little doctor advancing
with extended hand, I honour your gallantry. Permit me to say,
Sir, that I highly admire your conduct, and extremely regret
having caused you the inconvenience of this meeting, to no purpose.
I beg you wont mention it, Sir, said Mr. Winkle.
I shall feel proud of your acquaintance, Sir, said the little doctor.
It will afford me the greatest pleasure to know you, sir, replied
Mr. Winkle. Thereupon the doctor and Mr. Winkle shook
hands, and then Mr. Winkle and Lieutenant Tappleton (the
doctors second), and then Mr. Winkle and the man with the
camp-stool, and, finally, Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass--the
last-named gentleman in an excess of admiration at the noble
conduct of his heroic friend.
I think we may adjourn, said Lieutenant Tappleton.
Certainly, added the doctor.
Unless, interposed the man with the camp-stool, unless Mr.
Winkle feels himself aggrieved by the challenge; in which case, I
submit, he has a right to satisfaction.
Mr. Winkle, with great self-denial, expressed himself quite
satisfied already.
Or possibly, said the man with the camp-stool, the gentlemans
second may feel himself affronted with some observations
which fell from me at an early period of this meeting; if so, I shall
be happy to give him satisfaction immediately.
Mr. Snodgrass hastily professed himself very much obliged
with the handsome offer of the gentleman who had spoken last,
which he was only induced to decline by his entire contentment
with the whole proceedings. The two seconds adjusted the cases,
and the whole party left the ground in a much more lively
manner than they had proceeded to it.
Do you remain long here? inquired Doctor Slammer of
Mr. Winkle, as they walked on most amicably together.
I think we shall leave here the day after to-morrow, was the reply.
I trust I shall have the pleasure of seeing you and your friend
at my rooms, and of spending a pleasant evening with you, after
this awkward mistake, said the little doctor; are you
disengaged this evening?
We have some friends here, replied Mr. Winkle, and I should
not like to leave them to-night. Perhaps you and your friend will
join us at the Bull.
With great pleasure, said the little doctor; will ten oclock be
too late to look in for half an hour?
Oh dear, no, said Mr. Winkle. I shall be most happy to
introduce you to my friends, Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman.
It will give me great pleasure, I am sure, replied Doctor
Slammer, little suspecting who Mr. Tupman was.
You will be sure to come? said Mr. Snodgrass.
Oh, certainly.
By this time they had reached the road. Cordial farewells were
exchanged, and the party separated. Doctor Slammer and his
friends repaired to the barracks, and Mr. Winkle, accompanied by
Mr. Snodgrass, returned to their inn.
CHAPTER III A NEW ACQUAINTANCE--THE STROLLERS TALE--A DISAGREEABLE INTERRUPTION, AND AN UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER Mr. Pickwick had felt some apprehensions in consequence of the unusual absence of his two friends, which their mysterious behaviour during the whole morning had by no means tended to diminish. It was, therefore, with more than ordinary pleasure that he rose to greet them when they again entered; and with more than ordinary interest that he inquired what had occurred to detain them from his society. In reply to his questions on this point, Mr. Snodgrass was about to offer an historical account of the circumstances just now detailed, when he was suddenly checked by observing that there were present, not only Mr. Tupman and their stage-coach companion of the preceding day, but another stranger of equally singular appearance. It was a careworn-looking man, whose sallow face, and deeply-sunken eyes, were rendered still more striking than Nature had made them, by the straight black hair which hung in matted disorder half-way down his face. His eyes were almost unnaturally bright and piercing; his cheek-bones were high and prominent; and his jaws were so long and lank, that an observer would have supposed that he was drawing the flesh of his face in, for a moment, by some contraction of the muscles, if his half-opened mouth and immovable expression had not announced that it was his ordinary appearance. Round his neck he wore a green shawl, with the large ends straggling over his chest, and making their appearance occasionally beneath the worn button-holes of his old waistcoat. His upper garment was The Pickwick Papers page 14 The Pickwick Papers page 16 |