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Elisha Cuthbert Photos Books: Martin Eden The Pickwick Papers The Sea Wolf |
papa, my dear, said Mrs. Nupkins;
how I have implored and begged that man to inquire into the
captains family connections; how I have urged and entreated
him to take some decisive step! I am quite certain nobody would
believe it--quite.
But, my dear, said Mr. Nupkins.
Dont talk to me, you aggravating thing, dont! said Mrs. Nupkins.
My love, said Mr. Nupkins, you professed yourself very fond
of Captain Fitz-Marshall. You have constantly asked him here, my
dear, and you have lost no opportunity of introducing him elsewhere.
Didnt I say so, Henrietta? cried Mrs. Nupkins, appealing to
her daughter with the air of a much-injured female. Didnt I say
that your papa would turn round and lay all this at my door?
Didnt I say so? Here Mrs. Nupkins sobbed.
Oh, pa! remonstrated Miss Nupkins. And here she sobbed too.
Isnt it too much, when he has brought all this disgrace and
ridicule upon us, to taunt me with being the cause of it?
exclaimed Mrs. Nupkins.
How can we ever show ourselves in society! said Miss Nupkins.
How can we face the Porkenhams? cried Mrs. Nupkins.
Or the Griggs! cried Miss Nupkins.
Or the Slummintowkens! cried Mrs. Nupkins. But what does
your papa care! What is it to HIM! At this dreadful reflection,
Mrs. Nupkins wept mental anguish, and Miss Nupkins followed
on the same side.
Mrs. Nupkinss tears continued to gush forth, with great
velocity, until she had gained a little time to think the matter
over; when she decided, in her own mind, that the best thing to
do would be to ask Mr. Pickwick and his friends to remain until
the captains arrival, and then to give Mr. Pickwick the opportunity
he sought. If it appeared that he had spoken truly, the
captain could be turned out of the house without noising the
matter abroad, and they could easily account to the Porkenhams
for his disappearance, by saying that he had been appointed,
through the Court influence of his family, to the governor-
generalship of Sierra Leone, of Saugur Point, or any other of
those salubrious climates which enchant Europeans so much, that
when they once get there, they can hardly ever prevail upon
themselves to come back again.
When Mrs. Nupkins dried up her tears, Miss Nupkins dried up
hers, and Mr. Nupkins was very glad to settle the matter as
Mrs. Nupkins had proposed. So Mr. Pickwick and his friends,
having washed off all marks of their late encounter, were introduced
to the ladies, and soon afterwards to their dinner; and
Mr. Weller, whom the magistrate, with his peculiar sagacity, had
discovered in half an hour to be one of the finest fellows alive,
was consigned to the care and guardianship of Mr. Muzzle,
who was specially enjoined to take him below, and make much
of him.
How de do, sir? said Mr. Muzzle, as he conducted Mr. Weller
down the kitchen stairs.
Why, no considerable change has taken place in the state of
my system, since I see you cocked up behind your governors
chair in the parlour, a little vile ago, replied Sam.
You will excuse my not taking more notice of you then, said
Mr. Muzzle. You see, master hadnt introduced us, then. Lord,
how fond he is of you, Mr. Weller, to be sure!
Ah! said Sam, what a pleasant chap he is!
Aint he?replied Mr. Muzzle.
So much humour, said Sam.
And such a man to speak, said Mr. Muzzle. How his ideas
flow, dont they?
Wonderful, replied Sam; they comes a-pouring out, knocking
each others heads so fast, that they seems to stun one another;
you hardly know what hes arter, do you?
Thats the great merit of his style of speaking, rejoined
Mr. Muzzle. Take care of the last step, Mr. Weller. Would you
like to wash your hands, sir, before we join the ladies! Heres a
sink, with the water laid on, Sir, and a clean jack towel behind
the door.
Ah! perhaps I may as well have a rinse, replied Mr. Weller,
applying plenty of yellow soap to the towel, and rubbing away
till his face shone again. How many ladies are there?
Only two in our kitchen, said Mr. Muzzle; cook and ouse-
maid. We keep a boy to do the dirty work, and a gal besides, but
they dine in the washus.
Oh, they dines in the washus, do they? said Mr. Weller.
Yes, replied Mr. Muzzle, we tried em at our table when they
first come, but we couldnt keep The Pickwick Papers page 168 The Pickwick Papers page 170 |