Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/178

126 126 I'OSTIIUMOUS PAPERS OF

♦ '* I Wish, my dear, you would endeavour to find some topic of conver- sation in which these gentlemen might take some rational interest."

^' But my love," said Mr. Pott, with great humility, " Mr. Pickwick does take an interest in it."

" It's well for him if he can," said Mrs. Pott, emphatically ; « I am wearied out of my life with your politics, and quarrels with the Inde- pendent, and nonsense. I am quite astonished P. at your making such an exhibition of your absurdity."

'< But my dear—" said Mr. Pott.

" Oh, nonsense, don't talk to me ; " said Mrs. Pott. " Do you play ecarte, Sir ? "

" I shall be very happy to learn, under your tuition," replied Mr Winkle.

<• Well, then, draw that little table into this window, and let me get out of hearing of those prosy politics."

" Jane," said Mr. Pott, to the servant who brought in candles, " go down into the office, and bring me up the file of the Gazette for Eighteen Hundred and Twenty Eight. I'll just read you — " added the editor, turning to Mr. Pickwick, " I'll just read you a few of the leaders I wrote at that time, upon the Buif job of appointing a new tollman to the turnpike here ; I rather think they'll amuse you."

" I should like to hear them very much, indeed," said Mr. Pickwick.

Up came the file, and down sat the editor, with Mr. Pickwick at his side.

We have in vain pored over the leaves of Mr. Pickwick's note-book, in the hope of meeting with a general summary of these beautiful com- positions. We have every reason to believe that he was perfectly enraptured with the vigour and freshness of the style ; indeed Mr. Winkle has recorded the fact that his eyes were closed, as- if with excess of pleasure, during the whole time of their perusal.

The announcement of supper put a stop both to the game at ecarte, and the recapitulation of the beauties of the Eatanswill Gazette. Mrs. Pott was in the highest spirits and the most agreeable humour. Mr. Winkle had already made considerable progress in her good opinion, and she did not hesitate to inform him, confidentially, that Mr. Pickwick was " a delightful old dear." These terms convey a familiarity of expression, in which few of those who were intimately acquainted with that colossal-minded man, would have presumed to indulge. We have preserved them, nevertheless, as aifording at once a touching and a con- vincing proof of the estimation in which he was held by every class of society, and the ease with which he made his way to their hearts and feelings.

It was a late hour of the night — long after Mr. Tupman and Mr. Snodgrass had fallen asleep in the inmost recesses of the Peacock — when the two friends retired to rest. Slumber soon fell upon the senses of Mr. Winkle, but his feelings had been excited, and his admiration roused ; and for many hours after sleep had rendered him insensible to earthly objects, the face and figure of the agreeable Mrs. Pott presented themselves again and again to his wandering imagination.