Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/139

91 THE PICKWICK CLUi. 9T

lerieS) with old clumsy balustraJes, ran round two sides of the straggling area, and a double row of bells to correspond, sheltered from the wea- ther by a little sloping roof, hung over the door leading to the bar and coffee-room. Two or three gigs and chaise-carts were wheeled up under difl'erent little sheds and pent-houses ; and the occasional heavy tread of a cart-horse, or rattling of a chain at the fi?rther end of the yard, announced to any body who cared about the matter, that the stable lay in that direction. When we add that a few boys in smock frocks, were lying asleep on heavy packages, woolpacks, and other articles that were scattered about on heaps of straw, we have described as fully as need be, the general appearance of the yard of the White Hart Inn, High Street, Borough, on the particular morning in quet>tion.

A loud ringing of one of the bells, was followed by the appearance of a smart chambermaid in the upper sleeping gallery, who, after tap- ping at one of the doors, and receiving a request from within, called over the balustrades.

" Sam I "

" Hallo," replied the man with the white hat.

" Number twenty-two wants his boots."

" Ask number twenty-two, vether he'll have 'em now, or vait till he gets 'em," was the reply.

" Come, don't be a fool, Sam," said the girl, coaxingly, *• the gentle- roan wants his boots directly."

" Well, you are a nice young 'ooman for a musical party, you are," said the boot-cleaner. " Look at these here boots — eleven pair o* boots ; and one shoe as b'longs to number six, with the wooden leg The eleven boots is to be called at half-past eight and the shoe at nine. Who's number twenty-two, that's to put all the others out? No, no; reg'lar rotation, as Jack Ketch said, ven he tied the men up. Sorry to keep you a watin'. Sir, but I'll attend to you directly."

Saying which, the man in the white hat set to work upon a top-boot with increased assi(fuity.

There was another loud ring ; and the bustling old landlady of the White Hart made her appearance in the opposite gallery.

" Sam," cried the landlady, "where's that lazy, idle — why Sam — oh, there you are ; whydon't you answer? "

" Vouldn't be gen-teel to answer, 'till you'd done talking," replied Sam, gruffly.

'* Here, clean them shoes for number seventeen directly, and take 'em to private sitting-room, number five, first floor."

The landlady flung a pair of lady's shoes into the yard, and bustled away.

" Number 5," said Sam, as he picked up the shoes, and taking a piece of chalk from his pocket, made a memorandum of their destina- tion on the soles — " Lady's shoes and private sittiu' room ! I suppose the didn't come in the vaggin."

ing over the railing of the gallery, " with a gentleman in a hackney-
 * ' She came in early this morning," cried the girl, who was still lean-