Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/233

175 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 1 "5

when he knew old Lohbs was out, Nathaniel Pipkin had the temeritv to kiss his hand to Maria Lobbs ; and Maria Lobbs, instead of shutting the window, and pulling- down the blind, kissed hers to hira, and smiled. Upon which, Nathaniel Pipkin determined, that, come what might, he would develope the state of his feelirp"s, without further delay.

A prettier foot, a gayer heart, a more dimpled face, or a smarter form, never bounded so lightly over the earth they graced, as did those of Maria Lobbs, the old saddler's daughter. There was a roguish twinkle in her sparkling eyes, that would have made its way to fur less susceptible bosoms than that of Nathaniel Pipkin ; and there was such a joyous sound in her merry laugh, that the sternest misanthrope must have smiled to hear it. Even old Lobbs himself^ in the very height of his ferocity, couldn't resist the coaxing of his pretty daughter ; and when she, and her cousin Kate — au arch, impudent-looking, bewitching little person — made a dead set upon the old man together, as, to say the truth, they very often did, he could have refused them nothing, even had they asked for a portion of the countless and inexhaustible treasures, which were hidden from the light, in the iron safe.

" Nathaniel Pipkin's heart beat high within him, when he saw this enticing htlle couple some hundred yards before him, one summers evening, in the very field in which he had many a time strolled about till night-time, and pondered on the beauty of Maria Lobbs. But though he had often thought then, how briskly he would walk up to Maria Lobbs and tell her of his passion if he could only meet her, he felt, now that she was unexpectedly before him, all the blood in his body mounting to his face, manifestly to the great detriment of his legs, which, deprived of their usual portion, trembled beneath him. When they stopped to gather a hedge-flower, or listen to a bird, Nathaniel Pipkin stopped too, and pretended to be absorbed in meditation, as indeed he really was; for he was thinking what on earth he should ever do, when they turned back, as they inevitably must in time, and meet him face to face. But though he was afraid to make up to them, he couldn't bear to lose sight of them ; so when they walked faster he walked faster, when they lingered he lingered, and when they stopped he stopped ; and so they might have gone on, till the darkness prevented them, if Kate had not looked slily back, and encouragingly beckoned Nathaniel to advance. There was something in Kate's manner that was not to be resisted, and so Nathaniel Pipkin complied with the invitation ; and after a great deal of blushing on his part, and immoderate laughter on I hat of the wicked little cousin, Nathaniel Pipkin went down on his knees on the dewy grass, and declared his resolution to remain there for ever, unless he was permitted to rise the accepted lover of Maria Lobbs. Upon this, the merry laughter of Maria Lobbs rang through the calm evening air — without seeming to disturb it, though ; it had such a pleasant sound — and the wicked little cousin laughed more immo- derately than before, and N ihaniel Pipkin blushed deeper than ever. At length, Maria Lobbs being more strenuously urged by the love-worn little man, turned away her head, and whispered her cousin to say, or at all events Kate did say, that she felt much honoured by Mr. Pipkin's addresses, that her hand and heart were at her father's disposal, but