Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/362

292 292 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OP

" Ladies and gentlemen — no, I won't say ladies and gentlemen, V call you my friends, my dear friends, if the ladies will allow me to take so great a liberty "

Here Mr. Pickwick was interrupted by immense applause from the ladies, echopd by the gentlemen, during which the owner of the pyes wan distinctly heard to state that she could kiss that dear Mr. Pickwick, whereupon Mr. Winkle gallantly inquired if it couldn't be done by deputy, to which the young lady with the black eyes replied, " Go away " — and accompanied the request with a look which said as plainly as a look could do *' if you can."

" My dear friends," resumed Mr. Pickwick, " I am going to propose the health of the bride and bridegroom — CJod bless 'em (cheers and tears). My young friend Trundle, I believe to be a very excellent and manly fellow ; and his wife I know to be a very amiable and lovely girl, well qualified to transfer to another sphere of action the happiness which for twenty years she has diffused around her, in her father's house. (Here, the fat boy burst forth into stentorian biubberings, and was led forth by the coat collar, by Mr. Weller.) I wish," added Mr. Pickwick, " I wish I was young enough to be her sister's husband, (cheers), but, failing that, I am happy to be oA enough to be her father; for, being so, I shall not be suspected of any latent designs when I say, that I admire, esteem, and love them both (cheers and sobs). The bride's father, our good friend there, is a noble person, and I am proud to know him (great uproar). He is a kind, excellent, independent-spirited, fine-hearted, hospitable, liberal man (enthusiastic shouts from the poor relations, at all the adjectives ; and especially at the two last). That his daughter may enjoy all the happiness, even he can desire; and that he may derive from the contemplation of her felicity ail the gratification ol heart and peace of mind which he so well deserves, is, I am persuaded, our united wish. So, let us drink their healths, and wish them pro- longed life, and every blessing."

Mr. Pickwick concluded amidst a whirlwind of applause ; and once more were the lungs of the supernumeraries, under Mr. Weller's com- mand, brought into active and efficient operation. Mr. Wardle pro- posed Mr. Pickwick ; and Mr. Pickwick proposed the old lady. Mr. Snodgrass proposed Mr. Wardle, and Mr. Wardle proposed Mr. Snod- grass. One of the poor relations proposed Mr. Tupman, and the other poor relation proposed Mr. Winkle ; and all was happiness and festivity, until the mysterious disappearance of both the poor relations beneath the table, warned the party that it was time to adjourn.

At dinner they met again, after a five and twenty mile walk, under- taken by the males at Wardle's recommendation, to get rid of the effects of the wine at breakfast ; the poor relations had lain in bed all day, with the view of attaining the same happy consummation, but, as they had been unsuccessful, they stopped there. Mr. Weller kept the domestics in a state of perpetual hilarity ; and the fat boy divided time into small alternate allotments of eating and sleeping.

The dinner was as hearty an affair as the breakfast, and was (juite