Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/382

308 308 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

" Eccentricities of genius, Sam/' said Mr. Pickwick. " You may retire."

Sam did retire accordingly ; and Mr. Pickwick, at the expiration of the quarter of an hour, went down to breakfast.

" Here he is at last," said old Wardle. " Pickwick, this is Miss Allen's brother, Mr. Benjamin Allen — Ben we call him, and so may you if you like. This gentleman is his very particular friend, Mr. — "

" Mr. Bob Sawyer," interposed Mr. Benjamin Allen, whereupon Mr. Bob Sawyer and Mr. Benjamin Allen laughed in concert.

Mr. Pic'kwick bowed to Bob Sawyer, ana Bob Sawyer bowed to Mr. Pickwick ; Bob and his very particular friend then applied themselves most assiduously to the eatables before them ; and Mr. Pickwick had an opportunity of glancing at them both

Mr. Benjamin Allen was a coarse, stout, thick-set young man, with black hair cut rather short, and a white face cut rather long. He was embellished with spectacles, and wore a white neckerchief. Below his single-breasted black surtout, which was buttoned up to his chin, appeared the usual number of pepper-and-salt coloured legs, terminating in a pair of imperfectly polished boots. Although his coat was short in the sleeves, it disclosed no vestige of a linen wristband ; and although there was quite enough of his face to admit of the encroachment of a shirt collar, it was not graced by the smallest approach to that appen- dage. He presented altogether rather a mildewy appearance, and emitted a fragrant odour of full-flavoured Cubas.

Mr. Bob Sawyer, who was habited in a coarse blue coat, which, without being either a great coat or a surtout, partook of the nature and quali- ties of both, had about him that sort of slovenly smartness, and swag- gering gait, which is peculiar to young gentlemen who smoke in the streets by day, shout and scream in the same by night, call waiters by their christian names, and do various other acts and deeds of an equally facetious description. He wore a pair of plaid trousers, and a large rough double-breasted waistcoat ; and out of doors, carried a thick stick with a big top. He eschewed gloves, and looked, upon the whole, some- thing like a dissipated Robinson Crusoe.

Such were the two worthies to whom Mr. Pickwick was introduced, as he took his seat at the breakfast table on Christmas morning.


 * • Splendid morning, gentlemen," said Mr. Pickwick.

Mr. Bob Sawyer slightly nodded his assent to the proposition, and asked Mr. Benjamin Allen for the mustard.

" Have you come far this morning, gentlemen ?" inquired Mr, Pick- wick.

" Blue Lion at Muggleton," briefly responded Mr. Allen.

" You should have joined us last night," said Mr. Pickwick.

" So we should," replied Bob Sawyer, '^ but the brandy was too good to leave in a hurry : wasn't it, Ben ?"

" Certainly," said Mr. Benjamin Allen ; " and the cigars were not ba£^. or the pork chops either : were they. Bob ?" "

"Decidedly not," said Bob. And the particular friends resumed