Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/227

169 rilE PICKWICK CLUB. U)9

he ^^"ds, until the alarm had subsided : and then to make u superuatural effort, and g:et over the wall, or perish in the attempt.

Like all Mr. Pickwick's determinations, this was the best that could he made under the circumstances ; but, unfortunately, it was founded upon the assumption that they would not venture to open the dooi again. What was his discomfiture, when he heard the chain and bolts withdrawn, and saw the door slowly opening-, wider and wider I He retreated into the corner, step by step ; hut do what he would, the inter- position of his own person, prevented its being- opened to its utmost width.

" Who's there?" screamed a numerous chorus of treble voices from the stair-case inside, consisting of the spinster lady of the establish- ment, three teachers, five female servants, and thirty boarders, all half- dressed, and in a forest of curl-papers.

Of course Mr. Pickwick didn't say who was there : and then the burden of the chorus changed into — '' Lor' I I am so frightened."

the very last of the group — " Cook, why don't you go a little way into the garden ? "
 * Cook," said the lady abbess, who took care to be on the top stair,

" Please ma'am, I don't like," responded the cook.

" Lor', what a stupid thing that cook is I " said the thirty boarders.

" Cook," said the lady abbess, with great dignity ; " don't answer me, if you please. I insist upon your looking into the garden, imme- diately."

Here the cook began to cry, and the house-maid said it was '' a shame ! " for which partisanship she received a month's warning on the spot.

" Do you hear, cook ? " said the lady abbess, stamping her foot, im- patiently.

" Don't you hear your missis, cook ? " said the three teacners.

^' What an impudent thing, that cook is ! " said the thirty boarders.

The unfortunate cook, thus strongly urged, advanced a step or two, and holding her candle just where it prevented her seeing any thing at all, declared there was nothing there, and it must have been the wind ; and the door was just going to be closed in consequence, when an inquisitive boarder, who had been peeping between the hinges, set up a fearful screaming, which called back the cook and the housemaid, and all the more adventurous, in no time.

the aforesaid Miss Smithers proceeded to go into hysterics of four young lady power.
 * ' What is the matter with Miss Smithers ? " said the lady abbess, a§

" Lor, Miss Smithers dear," said the other nine-and-twenty boarders.

"Oh, the man — the man — behind the door!" screamed Miss Smithers.

The lady abbess no sooner heard this appalling cry, than she retreated to her own bed-room, double-locked the door, and fainted away all com- fortalxly. The boarders, and the teachers, and the servants, fell back