Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/538

446 446 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

been rayther favourable to the growth of veeds, of an alarmin' and san- gvinary natur ; but vith that 'ere exception things is quiet enough."

" I shall get up," said Mr. Pickwick ; *' give me some clean things."

Whatever hostile intentions Mr. Sraangle might have entertained, his thoughts were speedily diverted by the unpacking of the portmanteau ; the contents of which appeared to impress him at once with a most favourable opinion, not only of Mr. Pickwick, but of Sam also, who, he took an early opportunity of declaring, in a tone of voice loud enough for that eccentric personage to overhear, was a regular thorough-bred original, and consequently the very man after his own heart. As to Mr. Pick- wick, the aifection he conceived for him knew no limits.

" Now is there anything I can do for you, my dear Sir ? " said Smangle.

" Nothing that I am aware of, I am obliged to you," replied Mr. Pickwick.

" No linen that you want sent to the washerwoman's ? I know a delightful washerwoman outside, that comes for my things twice a week, and, by Jove ! — how devilish lucky ! — this is the very day she calls. Shall I put any of those little things up with mine ? Don't say any- thing about the trouble. Confound and curse it ! if one gentleman under a cloud is not to put himself a little out of the way to assist another gentleman in the same condition, what's human nature?"

Thus spake Mr. Smangle, edging himself meanwhile as near as pos- sible to the portmanteau, and beaming forth looks of the most fervent and disinterested friendship.

" There's nothing you want to give out for the man to brush, my dear creature, is there ? " resumed Smangle.

" Nothin' whoever, my fine feller," rejoined Sam, taking the reply into his own mouth. " P'raps if vun of us wos to brush, without troubling the man, it 'ud be more agreeable for all parties, as the school- master said ven the young gentlemen objected to being flogged by the butler."

" And there's nothing that 1 can send in my little box to the washer- woman's, is there ? " said Smangle, turning from Sam to Mr. Pickwick with an air of some discomfiture.

must be chock full o' your own as it is."
 * ' Nothin' whatever, Sir," retorted Sam ; " I'm afeerd the little box

This speech was accompanied with such a very expressive look at that particular portion of Mr. Smangle's attire, by the appearance of which the skill of laundresses in getting up gentlemen's linen is generally tested, that he was fain to turn upon his heel, and, for the present at any rate, to give up all design on Mr. Pickwick's purse and wardrobe. He accordingly retired in dudgeon to the racket-ground, where he made a light and wholesome breakfast upon a couple of the cigars which had been purchased on the previous night.

Mr. Mivins, who was no smoker, and whose account for small articles of chandlery had also reached down to the bottom of the slate, and been " carried over " to the other side, remained in bed, and, in his own words, " took it out in sleep."

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