Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/430

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as were unacquainted with the legend. While it was being sung, the little man with the drab shorts disappeared ; he returned immediately on its conclusion, and whispered Mr. Anthony Humm, with a face of the deepest importance.

" My friends," said Mr. Humm, holding up his hand in a depre- catory manner, to bespeak the silence of such of the stout old ladies as were yet a line or two behind ; " my friends, a delegate from the Dork- ing branch of our society. Brother Stiggins, attends below."

Out came the pocket-handkerchiefs again, in greater force than ever, for Mr. Stiggins was excessively popular among the female consti- tuency of Brick Lane.

" He may approach, I think," said Mr. Humm, looking round him, with a fat smile. " Brother Tadger, let, him come forth and greet us." The little man in the drab shorts who answered to the name of Brother Tadger, bustled down the ladder with great speed, and was immediately afterwards heard tumbling up with the reverend Mr. Stiggins.

" He's a comin', Sammy," whispered Mr. Weller, purple in the countenance with suppressed laughter.

" Don't say nothin' to me," replied Sam, " for I can't bear it. He's close to the door. 1 hear him a-knockin' his head again the lath and plaster now."

As Sam Weller spoke, the little door flew open, and brother Tadger appeared, closely followed by the reverend Mr. Stiggins, who no sooner entered, then there was a great clapping of hands, and stamping of feet, and flourishing of handkerchiefs ; to all of which manifestations of delight, Brother Stiggins returned no other acknowledgment than staring with a wild eye, and a fixed smile, at the extreme top of the wick of the candle on the table : swaying his body to and fro, mean- while, in a very unsteady and uncertain manner.

Humm.
 * ^ Are you unwell, brother Stiggins ? " whispered Mr. Anthony

" I am all right. Sir," replied Mr. Stiggins, in a tone in which ferocity was blended with an extreme thickness of utterance ; " I am all right, Sir."

'^ Oh, ver}' well," rejoined Mr. Anthony Humm, retreating a few paces.

" I believe no man here, has ventured to say that I am not all right. Sir," said Mr. Stiggins.

" Oh, certainly not," said Mr. Humm.

" r should advise him not to. Sir ; I should advise him not," said Mr. Stiggins.

Bv this time the audience were perfectly silent, and waited with some anxiety for the resumption of business.

'•' Will you address the meeting, brother ?" said Mr. Humm, with a smile of invitation.

" No, Sir," rejoined Mr. Stiggins ; " No Sir. I will not, Sir." The meeting looked at each other with raised eye-hds, ami a murmur of astonishment ran through the room.