Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/589

493 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 493

" IMother said I wasn't to," rejoined jMaster Bardell. " I'm a goin' to Iiave some, I am."' Cheered by this prospect, the precocious boy ap}>lied liimself to his infantile tread-mill with increased vigour.

The above examination of a child of tender years took place while Mr. and INIrs. Raddle and the cab-driver were having an altercation concerning the fare, which terminating at this point in favour of the cabman, Mrs. Raddle came up tottering.

" Lauk, Mary Ann! what's the matter?" said Mrs. Cluppins.

'* It's put me all over in such a tremble, Betsy," replied Mrs. Raddle. '^ Raddle ain't like a man; he leaves every think to me."

This was scarcely fair upon the unfortunate Mr. Raddle, who had been thrust aside by his good lady in the commencement of the dispute, and peremptorily commanded to hold his tongue. He had no oppor- tunity of defending himself," however, for JMrs. Raddle gave unequivocal signs of fainting ; which being perceived from the parlour window, JMrs. Bardell, IMrs. Sanders, the lodger, and the lodger's servant, darted precipitately out, and conveyed her into the house, all talking at the same time, and giving utterance to various expressions of pity and condolence, as if she were one of the most suffering mortals on earth. Being conveyed into the front parlour, she Avas there deposited on a sofa; andjthe lady from the ]tirst floor running up to the first floor, returned with a bottle of sal volatile, which, holding ^Irs. Raddle tight round the neck, she applied in all womanly kindness and pity to her nose, until that lady with many plunges and struggles was fain to declare herself decidedly better.

too well."
 * ' Ah, poor thing 1 " said Mrs. Rogers, " I know what her feelin's is,

"Ah, poor thing! so do I," said Mrs. Sanders : and then all the ladies moaned in unison, and said iheij knew what it was, and they pitied her from their hearts, they did ; even the lodger's little servant, who was thirteen years old, and three feet high, murmured her sympathy.

" But what's been the matter?" said Mrs. Bardell.

" Ah, what has decomposed you, ma'am?" inquired Mrs. Rogers.

"I have been a good deal flurried," replied Mrs. Raddle, in a re- proachful manner. Thereupon the ladies cast indignant looks at Mr. Raddle.

•' Why, the fact is," said that unhappy gentleman, stepping forward, " when we alighted at this door, a dispute arose with the driver of the

cabrioily " A loud scream from his wife at the mention of this

word, rendered all further explanation inaudible.

" You'd better leave us to bring her round, Raddle," said iNIrs. Clup- pins. " She'll never get better as long as you're here."

AH the ladies concurred in this opinion ; so 'Sir. Raddle was pushed out of the room, and requested to give himself an airing in the back yard, which he did for about a quarter of an hour, when Mrs. Bardell announced to him, with a solemn face, that he might come in now, but that he must be very careful how he behaved towards his wife. She knew he didn't mean to be unkind ; but INIary Ann was very far from strong, and, if he didn't take care, he might lose her when he least