Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/457

375 THE PICWKICK CLUB. 375

" It's odd enough certainly, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick ; '* but if we stand talking here, we shall lose our places."

"Wot, ain't nothin' to be done in consequence, Sir?" exclaimed Sam, perfectly aghast at the coolness with which Mr. Pickwick prepared to ensconce himself inside.

" Done I " said Mr. Pickwick. « What should be done ? '*

" Ain't nobody to be whopped for takin' this here liberty. Sir ? " said Mr. Weller, who had expected that at least he would have been com- missioned to challenge the guard and coachman to a pugilistic en- counter on the spot.

" Certainly not," replied Mr. Pickwick eagerly; " not on any account. Jump up to your seat directly."

" I'm wery much afeerd," muttered Sam to himself, as he turned away, " that somethin' queer's come over the governor, or he'd never ha' stood this so quiet. 1 hope that 'ere trial hasn't broken his spirit, but it looks bad : wery bad." Mr. Weller shook his head gravely ; and it is worthy of remark, as an illustration of the manner in which he took this circumstance to heart, that he did not speak another word until the coach reached the Kensington turnpike, which was so long a time for him to remain taciturn, that the fact may be considered wholly unprecedented.

Nothing worthy of special mention occurred during the journey. Mr. Dowler related a variety of anecdotes, all illustrative of his own personal prowess and desperation, and appealea to Mrs. Dowler in cor- roboration thereof ; when Mrs. Dowler invariably brought in, in the form of an appendix, some remarkable fact or circumstance which Mr. Dowler had forgotten, or had perhaps through modesty omitted, for the addenda in every instance went to show that Mr. Dowler was even a more wonderful fellow than he made himself out to be. Mr. Pick- wick and Mr. Winkle listened with great admiration, and at intervals conversed with Mrs. Dowler, who was a very agreeable and fascinating person. So, what between Mr. Dowler's stories, and Mrs. Dowler's charms, and Mr. Pickwick's good humour, and Mr. Winkle's good list- ening, the insides contrived to be very companionable all the way.

The outsides did as outsides always do. They were very cheerful and talkative at the beginning of every stage, and very dismal and sleepy in the middle, and very bright and wakeful again, towards the end. There was one young gentleman in an India-rubber cloak, who smoked cigars all day ; and there was another young gentleman in a parody upon a great coat, who lighted a good many, and feeling obviously unsettled after the second whiff, threw them away when he thought nobody was looking at him. There was a third young man on the box who wished to be learned in cattle, and an old one behind, who was familiar with farming. There was a constant succession of Christian names in smock frocks and white coats, who were invited to have a " lift " by the guard, and who knew every horse and hostler on the road and off it ; and there was a dinner which would have been cheap at half-a-crown a mouth, if any moderate number of mouths could have eat it in the time. And at seven o'clock p. m., Mr. Pickwick and his friends, and Mr.