Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/130

84 84 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

" Who's gone?" said Mr. Wardle, fiercely.

'"' Mus'r Jingle and Miss Rachael, in a po*-chay, from Blue Lion, Muggleton. 1 was there ; but I couldn't stop 'em ; so I run oif to teU'ee."

" 1 paid his expenses I " said Mr. Tupman, jumping up frantically, "lie's got ten pounds of mine! — stop him ! — he's swindled me I — I won't bear it ! — 1 '11 have justice, Pickwick ! — I won't stand it I " and with sundry incoherent exclamations of the like nature, the unhappy g-entleman .-pun round and round the apartment, in a transport of frenzy.

" Lord preserve us ! " ejaculated Mr. Pickwick, eyeing- the extraor- dinary gestures of his friend with terrified surprise. " He's gone mad I What shall we do ! ".

" Do ! " said the stout old host, who regarded only the last words of

the sentence. " Put the horse in the gig ! I'll get a chaise at

the Lion, and follow 'em instantly. " Where " — he exclaimed, as

the man ran out to execute the commission — " Where's that villain,

oe t

" Here I am ; but I han't a willin," replied a voice. It was the fat boy's.

" Let me get at him, Pickwick ! " cried Wardle, as he rushed at the ill-starred youth. " He was bribed by that scoundrel. Jingle, to put me on a wrong scent, by telling a cock-and-a-bull story of my sister and your friend Tupman ! " (Here Mr. Tupman sunk into a chair.)
 * Let me get at him ! "

" Don't let him ! " screamed all the women, above whose exclama- tions, the blubbering of the fat boy, was distinctly audible.

" I won't be held!" cried the old man. "Mr. Winkle, take your hands off I Mr. Pickwick, let me go. Sir!"

It was a beautiful sight, in that moment of turmoil and confusion, to l)eh61d the placid and philosophical expression of Mr. Pickwick's face, albeit somewhat flushed with exertion, as he stood with his arms firmly clasped round the extensive waist of their corpulent host, thus restraining the impetuosity of his passion, while the fat boy was scratched, and pulled, and pushed from the room by all the females congregated therein. He had no sooner released his hold, than the man entered to announce that the gig was ready.

"Don't let him go alone!" screamed the females. "He'll kill somebody !"

" I'll go with him," said Mr. Pickwick.

" You're a good fellow, Pickwick," said the host, grasping his hand. Look after your grandmother, girls ; she's fainted away. Now then, are you ready ? "
 * ' Emma, give Mr, Pickwick a shawl to tie round his neck — make haste.

Mr. Pickwick's mouth and chin, having been hastily enveloped in a large shawl : his hat having been put on his head, and his great coat thrown over his arm, he replied in the aifirmative.

They jumped into the gig. " Give her, her head, Tom," cried the nost ; and away they went, down the narrov»- lanes : jolting in and out