Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/642

538 538 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

"And bring some soda water," said Bob Sawyer.

" Soda water. Sir ? Yes, Sir." And with his mind apparently relieved from an overwhelming weight, by having at last got an order for something, the waiter imperceptibly melted away. Waiters never walk or run. They have a peculiar and mysterious power of skimming out of rooms, which other mortals possess not.

Some slight symptoms of vitality having been awakened in Mr. Ben Allen by the soda water, he suffered himself to be prevailed upon to wash his face and hands, and to submit to be brushed by Sam. Mr. Pickwick and Bob Sawyer having also repaired the disorder which the journey had made in their apparel^ the three started forth, arm in arm, to Mr. Winkle's ; Bob Sawyer impregnating the atmo- sphere with tobacco smoke as he walked along.

About a quarter of a mile off, in a quiet, substantial-looking street, stood an old red-brick house with three steps before the door, and a brass plate upon it, bearing in fat Roman capitals the words, '' Mr. Winkle." The steps were very white, and the bricks were very red, and the house was very clean ; and here stood Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Benjamin Allen, and Mr. Bob Sawyer, as the clock struck ten.

A smart servant girl answered the knock, and started on beholding the three strangers,

"Is Mr. Winkle at home, my dear ? " enquired Mr. Pickwick.


 * ' He is just going to supper, Sir," replied the girl.

" Give him that card if you please," rejoined Mr. Pickwick. "Say I am sorry to trouble him at so late an hour ; but I am anxious to see him to-night, and have only just arrived."

The girl looked timidly at Mr. Bob Sawyer, who was expressing his admiration of her personal charms by a variety of wonderful grimaces, and casting an eye at the hats and great-coats which hung in the passage, called another girl to mind the door while she went up stairs. The sentinel was speedily relieved, for the girl returned immediately, and begging pardon of the gentlemen for leaving them in the street, ushered them into a floor-clothed back parlour, half office and half dressing room, in which the principal useful and ornamental articles of furniture were a desk, a wash-hand stand and shaving glass, a boot-rack and boot-jack, a high stool, four chairs, a table, and an old eight-day clock. Over the mantel-piece were the sunken doors of an iron safe, while a couple of hanging shelves for books, an almanack, and several files of dusty papers, decorated the walls.

" Very sorry to leave you standing at the door. Sir," said the girl, lighting a lamp, and addressing Mr. Pickwick with a winning smile, '* but you was quite strangers to me ; and we have such a many trampers that only come to see what they can lay their hands on, that really—"

" There is not the least occasion for any apology, my dear," said Mr. Pickwick good humouredly.

" Not the slightest, my love," said Bob Sawyer, playfully stretching forth his arms, and skipping from side to side, as if to prevent the young lady's learing the room.