Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/314

248 248 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

magistrate of the town, and request him to secure the persons of Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman, without delay.

To this decision, the middle-aged lady was impelled by a variety of considerations, the chief of which, was the incontestible proof it would afford of her devotion to Mr. Peter Magnus, and her anxiety for his safety. She was too well acquainted with his jealous temperament to venture the slightest allusion to the real cause of her agitation on beholding Mr. Pickwick ; and she trusted to her own influence and power of persuasion with the little man, to quell his boisterous jealousy, supposing that Mr. Pickwick were removed., and no fresh quarrel could arise. Filled with these reflections, the middle-aged lady arrayed herself in her bonnet and shawl, and repaired to the Mayor's dwelling straightway.

about as grand a personage as the fastest walker would find out, between sunrise and sunset, on the twenty-first of June, which being, according to the almanacs, the longest day in the whole year, would naturally afi^ord him the longest period for his search. On this particular morning, Mr. Nupkins was in a state of the utmost excitement and irritation, for there had been a rebellion in the town ; all the day-scholars at the largest day-school, had conspired to break the windows of an obnoxious apple-seller, and had hooted the beadle, and pelted the constabulary — an elderly gentleman in top-boots, who had been called out to repress the tumult ; and had been a peace-officer, man and boy, for half a century at least. "And Mr. Nupkins was sitting in his easy chair, frowning with majesty, and boiling with rage, when a lady was announced on pressing, private, and particular business. Mr. Nupkins looked calmly terrible, and commanded that the lady should be shown in, which command, like all the mandates of emperors, and magistrates, and other great potentates of the earth, was forthwith obeyed ; and Miss Witherfield, interestingly agitated, was ushered in accordingly.
 * Now George Nupkins, Esquire, the principal magistrate aforesaid, was

" Muzzle," said the Magistrate.

Muzzle was an under-sized footman, with a long body and short legs.

" Muzzle."

" Yes, your worship."

" Place a chair and leave the room."

" Yes, your worship."

''^ Now, Ma'am, will you state your business ? " said the Magistrate.

" It is of a very painful kind, Sir," said Miss Witherfield.

" Very likely. Ma'am," said the Magistrate. " Compose your feelings, Ma'am." Here Mr. Nupkins looked benignant. " And then tell me what legal business brings you here, Ma'am." Here the Magistrate triumphed over the man ; and he looked stern again.

Witherfield, " but I fear a duel is going to be fought here."
 * ' It is very distressing to me, Sir, to give this information," said Miss

" Here, Ma'am," said the Magistrate. " Where, Ma'am ?"

" In Ipswich."

" In Ipswich, Ma'am — a duel in Ipswich," said the Magistrate, per- fectly aghast at the notion. " Impossible, Ma'am : nothing of the kind