Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/182

130 180 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

" And, perhaps, my dear Sir — " said the cautious little man, " per- haps if you cotdd — I don't mean to say it's indispensable — but if you could manage to kiss one of 'em, it would produce a Q,ry great impres- sion on the crowd."

'* Wouldn't it have as good an effect if the proposer or seconder did that ? " said the honourable Samuel Slumkey.

" Why, I am afraid it wouldn't," replied the agent ; " if it were done by yourself, my dear Sir, I think it would make you very popular."

" Very well," said the honourable Samuel Slumkey, with a resigned air, " then it must be done. That's all."

'^ Arrange the procession/' cried the twenty committee-men.

Amidst the cheers of the assembled throng, the band, and the con- stables, and the committee-men, and the voters, and the horsemen, and the carriages, took their places — each of the two-horse vehicles being closely packed with as many gentlemen as could manage to stand upright in it ; and that assigned to Mr. Perker, containing Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, Mr. Snodgrass, and about half a dozen of the committee beside.

There was a moment of awful suspense as the procession waited for the honourable Samuel Slumkey to step into his carriage. Suddenly the crowd set up a great cheering.

" He has come out," said little Mr. Perker, greatly excited ; the more so as their position did not enable them to see what was going forward.

Another cheer^ much louder.

" He has shaken hands with the men," cried the httle agent.

Another cheer, far more vehement.

« He has patted the babes on the head," said Mr. Perker, trembling with anxiety.

A roar of applause that rent the air.


 * ' He has kissed one of 'em I " exclaimed the delighted little man.

A second roar.

" He has kissed another," gasped the excited manager.

A third roar.

" He's kissing 'em all I " screamed the enthusiastic little gentleman. And hailed by the deafening shouts of the multitude, the procession moved on.

How or by what means it became mixed up with the other procession, and how it was ever extricated from the confusion consequent there- upon, is more than we can undertake to describe, inasmuch as Mr. Pickwick's hat was knocked over his eyes, nose, and mouth, by one poke of a Buff flag staff, very early in the proceedings. He describes himself as being surrounded on every side, when he could catch a glimpse of the scene, by angry and ferocious countenances, by a vast cloud of dust, and by a dense crowd of combatants. He represents himself as being forced from the carriage by some unseen power, and being personally engaged in a pugihstic encounter; but with whom, or how, or why. he is wholly unable to state. He then felt himself forced up some wooden steps by the persons from behind: and on removing his hat, found him- self surrounded by his friends, in the very front of the left hand side of