Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/344

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" Ah ! won't they I " said Mrs. Sanders.

" But the plaintiff must get it," resumed Mrs. Cluppins.

" I hope so," said Mrs. Bardell.

" Oh, there can't be any doubt about it," rejoined Mrs. Sanders.

" Veil," said Sam, rising and setting down his glass. " All I can say is, that I vish you may get it."

« Thanke'e, Mr. Weller," said Mrs. Bardell, fervently.

" And of them Dodson and Fogg, as does these sort o' things on spec," continued Mr. Weller, " as veil as for the other kind and gen'- rous people o' the same purfession, as sets people by the ears free gratis for nothin', and sets their clerks to work to find out little disputes among their neighbours and acquaintance as vants settlin' by means o' law-suits — all I can say o' them is, that I vish they had the revard I'd give 'era."

•' Ah, I wish they had the reward that every kind and generous heart would be inclined to bestow upon them," said the gratified Mrs. Bardell.

" Amen to that," replied Sam, " and a fat and happy livin' they'd get out of it. Vish you good night, ladies."

To the great relief of Mrs. Sanders, Sam was allowed to depart, without any reference on the part of the hostess to the pettitoes and toasted cheese, to which the ladies, with such juvenile assistance as Master Bardell could afford, soon afterwards rendered the amplest justice — indeed they wholly vanished, before their strenuous exertions.

Mr. Weller wended his way back to the George and Vulture, and faithfully recounted to his master, such indications of the sharp practice of Dodson and Fogg, as he had contrived to pick up in his visit to Mrs. Bardell's. An interview with Mr. Perker next day, more than con- firmed Mr. Weller's statement ; and Mr. Pickwick was fain to prepare for his Christmas visit to Dingley Del), with the pleasant anticipation that some two or three months afterwards, an action brought against him for damages sustained by reason of a breach of promise of marriage, would be publicly tried in the Court of Common Pleas ; the plaintiff having all the advantages derivable not only from the force of circum- stances, but from the sharp practice of Dodson and Fogg to boot.