Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/301

235 TME PICKWICK CLUB. 335

ill proof of the statement). It is evident to me Mit'am now, that I have mistaken this bed-room for my own. I had not been here five minutes Ma'am, when you suddenly entered it."

" If this improbable story be really true Sir" — said the lady, sobbing violently, " you will leave it instantly."

'' I will Ma'am with the greatest pleasure" — replied Mr. Pickwick.

" Instantly, Sir," said the lady.

" Certainly, Ma'am," interposed Mr. Pickwick very quickly. " Cer- tainly, Ma'am. I — I — am very sorry, Ma'am," said Mr. Pickwick, making his appearance at the bottom of the bed, " to have been the innocent occasion of this alarm and emotion ; deeply sorry, Ma'am."

The lady pointed to the door. One excellent quality of Mr. Pick- wick's character was beautifully displayed at this moment, under the most trying circumstances. Although he had hastily put on his hat over his night-cap, after the manner of the old patrol ; although he carried his shoes and gaiters in his hand, and his coat and waistcoat over his arm, nothing could subdue his native politeness.

'' I am exceedingly sorry, Ma'am," said Mr. Pickwick, bowing very low.


 * ' If you are. Sir, you will at once leave the room," said the lady.

" Immediately, Ma'am ; this instant, Ma'am," said Mr. Pickwick opening the door, and dropping both his shoes with a loud crash in so doing.

" I trust. Ma'am," resumed Mr. Pickwick, gathering up his shoes, and turning round to bow again. " I trust. Ma'am, that my unblemished character, and the devoted respect I entertain for your sex, will plead as some slight excuse for this" — But before Mr. Pickwick could con- clude the sentence, the lady had thrust him into the passage, and locked and bolted the door behind him.

Whatever grounds of self-congratulation Mr. Pickwick might have, for having escaped so quietly from his late awkward situation, his pre- sent position was by no means enviable. He was alone, in an open passage, in a strange house, in the middle of the night, half dressed ; it was not to be supposed that he could find his way in perfect darkness to a room which he had been wholly unable to discover with a light, and if he made the slightest noise in his fruitless attempts to do so, he stood every chance of being shot at, and perhaps killed, by some wake- ful traveller. He had no resource but to remain where he was, until daylight appeared. So after groping his way a few paces down the passage, and to his infinite alarm, stumbling over several pairs of boots in so doing, Mr. Pickwick crouched into a little recess in the wall, to wait for morning, as philosophically as he might.

He was not destined, however, to undergo this additional trial of patience : for he had not been long ensconced in his present conceal- ment when, to his unspeakable horror, a man, bearing a light, appeared at the end of the passage. His horror was suddenly converted into joy, however, when he recognised the form of his faithful attendant. It was indeed Mr. Samuel Weller, who after sitting up thus late, in con- versation with the Boots, who was sitting up for the mail, was now about to retire to rest.