Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/361

291 THE PICKWICK CLUB.

291

master's chair, from whence he watched the play of the knives and forks, and the progress of the choice morsels, from the dishes, to the mouths of the company, with a kind of dark and gloomy joy that was most impressive.

" God bless you, old fellow," said Mr. Pickwick.

" Same to you, my boy," replied Wardle ; and they pledged each other, heartily.

« Mrs. Wardle," said Mr. Pickwick, " we old folks must have a glass of wine together, in honour of this joyful event."

The old lady was in a state of great grandeur just then, for she was sitting at the top of the table in the brocaded gown, with her newly- married daughter on one side, and Mr. Pickwick on the other, to do the carving. Mr. Pickwick had not spoken in a very loud tone, but she understood him at once, and drank off a full glass of wine to his long life and happiness ; after which the worthy old soul launched forth into a minute and particular account of her own wedding, with a dissertation on the fashion of wearing high-heeled shoes, and some particulars concern- ing the life and adventures of the beautiful Lady ToUimglower, deceased, at all of which the old lady herself laughed very heartily indeed, and so did the young ladies too, for they were wondering among themselves what on earth grandma was talking about. When they laughed, the old lady laughed ten times more heartily : and said that they always had been considered capital stories, which caused them all to laugh again, and put the old lady into the very best of humours. Then the cake was cut, and passed through the ring; and the young ladies saved pieces to put under their pillows to dream of their future husbands on ; and a great deal of blushing and merriment was thereby occasioned.

" Mr. Miller," said Mr. Pickwick to his old acquaintance, the hard- headed gentleman, " a glass of wine? "

" W^ith great satisfaction Mr. Pickwick," replied the hard-headed gentleman, solemnly.

" You'll take me in ? " said the benevolent old clergyman.

" And me," interposed his wife.

" And me, and me," said a couple of poor relations at the bottom of the table, who had eaten and drank very heartily, and laughed at every thing.

Mr. Pickwick expressed his heartfelt 5^f»light at every additional sug- gestion ; and his eyes beamed with hilarity and cheerfulness.

" Ladies and gentlemen," said Mr. Pickwick, suddenly rising —

" Hear, hear ! Hear, hear ! Hear, hear ! " said Mr. Weller, in the excitement of his feelings. ^

" Call in all the servants," cried old Wardle, interposing to prevent the public rebuke which Mr. Weller would otherwise most indubitably have received from his master.

" Give them a glass of wine each, to drink the toast in. Now, Pickwick."

Amidst the silence of the company, the whispering of the women servants, and the awkward embarrassment of the men, Mr. Pickwick proceeded.

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