Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/338

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Here Job Trotter bowed with great politeness, and laid his hand upon his heart.

" I say," said Mr. Pickwick, growing gradually angry, '^ that I might have taken a greater revenge, but I content myself with exposing you, which I consider a duty I owe to society. This is a leniency, Sir, which I hope you will remember."

When Mr. Pickwick arrived at this point. Job Trotter, with facetious gravity, applied his hand to his ear, as if desirous not to lose a syllable he uttered.

" And I have only to add. Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, now thoroughly angry, " that I consider you a rascal, and a — a rufBan — and — and worse than any man I ever saw, qr heard of, except that very pious and sancti- fied vagabond in the mulberry livery."

" Ha ! ha ! " said Jingle, " good fellow, Pickwick — fine heart — stout old boy — but must not be passionate — bad thing, very — bye, bye — see you again some day — keep up your spirits — now Job — trot."

With these words, Mr. Jingle stuck on his hat in his old fashion, and strode out of the room. Job Trotter paused, looked round, smiled, and then with a bow of mock solemnity to Mr. Pickwick, and a wink to Mr, Weller, the audacious slyness of which, baffles all description, fol- lowed the footsteps of his hopeful master.

" Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, as Mr. Weller was following.

<^ Sir." ■ " Stay here."

Mr. Weller seemed uncertain. - -" Stay here," repeated Mr. Pickwick.

Weller.
 * Mayn't I polish that ere Job off, in the front garden } *' said Mr.

'^ Certainly not," replied Mr. Pickwick.

" Mayn't I kick him out o' the gate. Sir? " said Mr. Weller.


 * ' Not on any account," replied his master.

For the first time since his engagement, Mr. Weller looked, for a moment, discontented and unhappy. But his countenance immediately cleared up, for the wily Mr. Muzzle, by concealing himself behind the street door, and rushing violently out, at the right instant, contrived with great dexterity to overturn both Mr. Jingle and his attendant, down the flight of steps, into the American aloe tubs that stood beneath.

" Having discharged my duty, Sir," said Mr. Pickwick to Mr. Nup- kins, " I will, with my friends, bid you farewell. While we thank you for such hospitality as wo have received, permit me to assure you in our joint names that we should not have accepted it, or consented to extri- cate ourselves in this way, from our previous dilemma, had we not been impelled by a strong sense of duty. We return to London to-morrow. Your secret is safe with us."

Having thus entered his protest against their treatment of the morn- ing, Mr. Pickwick bowed low to the ladies ; and notwithstanding the solicitations of the family, left the room with his friends.

" Get your hat, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick.

" It's below stairs. Sir," said Sam, and he ran down after it.

Now there was nobody in the kitchen, but the pretty housemaid; and