Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/242

184 184 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

Snodgrass, and the no small embarrassment of Mr. Tupman, they found old Wardle and Trundle.

" How are you?" said the old man, grasping Mr. Tupman's hand. " Don't hang- back, or look sentimental about it; it can't be helped, old fellow. For her sake, I wish you'd had her ; for your own, I'm very glad you have not. A young fellow like you, will do better one of these days — eh?" With this consolation, old Wardle slapped Mr, Tupman on the back, and laughed heartily.

" Well, and how are you, my fine fellows?" said the old gentleman, shaking hands with Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass at the same time. " I have just been telling Pickwick that we must have you all down at Christmas. W^e're going to have a wedding — a real wedding this time."

" A wedding I " exclaimed Mr. Snodgrass, turning very pale.

" Yes, a wedding. But don't be frightened," said the good-humoured old man ; " it's only Trundle there, and Bella."

" Oh, is that all ?" said Mr. Snodgrass, relieved from a painful doubt which had fallen heavily on his breast. " Give you joy. Sir. How is Joe ? "

" Oh, he ; — very well," replied the old gentleman. " Sleepy as ever."

" And your mother, and the clergyman, and all of 'em ? "

" Quite well."

" Where," said Mr. Tupman^ with an effort — "where is — shCi Sir?" and he turned away his head, and covered his eyes with his hand.

" She !" said the old gentleman, with a knowing shake of the head. " Do you mean my single relative — eh ? "

Mr. Tupman, by a nod, intimated that his question applied to the disappointed Rachael.

" Oh, she's gone away," said the old gentleman. " She's living at a relation's, far enough off. She couldn't bear to see the girls, so I let her go. But come, here's the dinner. You must be hungry after your ride. I am, without any ride at all ; so let us fall to."

Ample justice was done to the meal ; and when they were seated round the table, after it had been disposed of, Mr. Pickwick, to the intense horror and indignation of his followers, related the adventure he had undergone^ and the success which had attended the base artifices of the diabolical Jingle.

" And the attack of rheumatism which I caught in that garden," said Mr. Pickwick, in conclusion, " renders me lame at this moment."

" I, too, have had something of an adventure," said Mr. Winkle, with a smile ; and at the request of Mr. Pickwick, he detailed the malicious libel of the Eatanswill Independent, and the consequent excitement of their friend, the editor.

Mr. Pickwick's brow darkened, during the recital. His friends ob- served it, and, when Mr. Winkle had concluded, maintained a profound silence. Mr. Pickwick struck the table emphatically with his clenched fist, and spoke as follows : —

" Is it not a wonderful circumstance," said Mr. Pickwick, " that we