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partook of
the nature and qualities of both, had about him that sort of
slovenly smartness, and swaggering gait, which is peculiar to
young gentlemen who smoke in the streets by day, shout and
scream in the same by night, call waiters by their Christian
names, and do various other acts and deeds of an equally
facetious description. He wore a pair of plaid trousers,
and a large, rough, double-breasted waistcoat; out of doors, he
carried a thick stick with a big top. He eschewed gloves, and
looked, upon the whole, something like a dissipated Robinson Crusoe.
Such were the two worthies to whom Mr. Pickwick was
introduced, as he took his seat at the breakfast-table on
Christmas morning.
Splendid morning, gentlemen, said Mr. Pickwick.
Mr. Bob Sawyer slightly nodded his assent to the proposition,
and asked Mr. Benjamin Allen for the mustard.
Have you come far this morning, gentlemen? inquired
Mr. Pickwick.
Blue Lion at Muggleton, briefly responded Mr. Allen.
You should have joined us last night, said Mr. Pickwick.
So we should, replied Bob Sawyer, but the brandy was too
good to leave in a hurry; wasnt it, Ben?
Certainly, said Mr. Benjamin Allen; and the cigars were not
bad, or the pork-chops either; were they, Bob?
Decidedly not, said Bob. The particular friends resumed their
attack upon the breakfast, more freely than before, as if the
recollection of last nights supper had imparted a new relish to
the meal.
Peg away, Bob, said Mr. Allen, to his companion, encouragingly.
So I do, replied Bob Sawyer. And so, to do him justice, he did.
Nothing like dissecting, to give one an appetite, said Mr.
Bob Sawyer, looking round the table.
Mr. Pickwick slightly shuddered.
By the bye, Bob, said Mr. Allen, have you finished that leg yet?
Nearly, replied Sawyer, helping himself to half a fowl as he
spoke. Its a very muscular one for a childs.
Is it? inquired Mr. Allen carelessly.
Very, said Bob Sawyer, with his mouth full.
Ive put my name down for an arm at our place, said Mr.
Allen. Were clubbing for a subject, and the list is nearly full,
only we cant get hold of any fellow that wants a head. I wish
youd take it.
No, replied Bob Sawyer; cant afford expensive luxuries.
Nonsense! said Allen.
Cant, indeed, rejoined Bob Sawyer, I wouldnt mind a
brain, but I couldnt stand a whole head.
Hush, hush, gentlemen, pray, said Mr. Pickwick, I hear the ladies.
As Mr. Pickwick spoke, the ladies, gallantly escorted by
Messrs. Snodgrass, Winkle, and Tupman, returned from an
early walk.
Why, Ben! said Arabella, in a tone which expressed more
surprise than pleasure at the sight of her brother.
Come to take you home to-morrow, replied Benjamin.
Mr. Winkle turned pale.
Dont you see Bob Sawyer, Arabella? inquired Mr. Benjamin
Allen, somewhat reproachfully. Arabella gracefully held out her
hand, in acknowledgment of Bob Sawyers presence. A thrill of
hatred struck to Mr. Winkles heart, as Bob Sawyer inflicted on
the proffered hand a perceptible squeeze.
Ben, dear! said Arabella, blushing; have--have--you been
introduced to Mr. Winkle?
I have not been, but I shall be very happy to be, Arabella,
replied her brother gravely. Here Mr. Allen bowed grimly to
Mr. Winkle, while Mr. Winkle and Mr. Bob Sawyer glanced
mutual distrust out of the corners of their eyes.
The arrival of the two new visitors, and the consequent check
upon Mr. Winkle and the young lady with the fur round her
boots, would in all probability have proved a very unpleasant
interruption to the hilarity of the party, had not the cheerfulness
of Mr. Pickwick, and the good humour of the host, been exerted
to the very utmost for the common weal. Mr. Winkle gradually
insinuated himself into the good graces of Mr. Benjamin Allen,
and even joined in a friendly conversation with Mr. Bob Sawyer;
who, enlivened with the brandy, and the breakfast, and the
talking, gradually ripened into a state of extreme facetiousness,
and related with much glee an agreeable anecdote, about the
removal of a tumour on some gentlemans head, which he
illustrated by means of an oyster-knife and a half-quartern loaf,
to the great edification of the assembled company. Then the
whole train went to church, where Mr. Benjamin Allen fell fast
asleep; while Mr. Bob Sawyer abstracted his thoughts from
worldly matters, by the ingenious process of carving his name on
the seat of the pew, in corpulent letters of four inches long.
Now, said Wardle, after a substantial lunch, with the agreeable
items of strong beer and cherry-brandy, had been done
ample justice to, The Pickwick Papers page 198 The Pickwick Papers page 200 |