Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/204

150 J 50 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

" You don't mean to say," said Mr. Pickwick, g-azing; with solemn sternness at his friend," You don't mean to say, Mr. Tup man, that it is your intention to put yourself into a ?reen velvet jacket, with a two- inch tail ? "

why not, Sir?"
 * ' Such is my intention, Sir," replied Mr. Tupraan warmly. '» And

" Because Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, considerably excited — *• Because you are too old, Sir."

" Too old ! " exclaimed Mr. Tupman.

" And if any further ground of objection be wanting-," continued Mr. Pickwick, ^' you are too fat. Sir."

" Sir," said Mr. Tupman, his face suffused with a crimson glow,
 * ' This is an insult."

" Sir," replied Mr. Pickwick in the same tone, " It is not half the insult to you, that your appearance in my presence in a green velvet jacket, with a two-inch tail, would be to me."

" Sir," said Mr. Tupman, " you're a fellow."

" Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, " you're another ! "

Mr. Tupman advanced a step or two, and glared at Mr. Pickwick. Mr. Pickwick returned the glare, concentrated into a focus by means of his spectacles, and breathed a bold defiance. Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Winkle, looked on, petrified at beholding such a scene between two such men.

" Sir," said Mr. Tupraan, after a short pause, speaking in a low, deep voice, " you have called me old."

•' I have," said Mr. Pickwick.

" And fat."


 * ' I reiterate the charge."

" And a fellow."

" So you are I "

There was a fearful pause.

" My attachment to your person. Sir," said Mr, Tupman, sneaking in a voice tremulous with emotion, and tucking up his wristbands mean- while, " is great — very great — but upon that person, I must take sum- mary vengeance."

" Come on. Sir," replied Mr. Pickwick. Stimulated by the exciting nature of the dialogue, the heroic man actually threw himself into a paralytic attitude, confidently supposed by the two by-standers to have been intended as a posture of defence.

of speech, of which intense astonishment had previously bereft him, and rushing between the two, at the imminent hazard of receiving an application on the temple from each. " What ! Mr. Pickwick, with the eyes of the world upon you ! Mr. Tupman I who, in common with us all, derives a lustre from his undying name ! For- shame, gentlemen ; for shame."
 * What ! " exclaimed Mr. Snodgrass, suddenly recovering the power

The unwonted lines which momentary passion had ruled in Mr. Pickwick's ckar and open brow, gradually melted away, as his young friend" spoke, like the marks of a black-lead pencil beneath the soften-

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