Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/644

540 540 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

bring the matter to an issue at once, he drew a letter from his pocket, and presenting it to Mr. Winkle, senior, said —

" This letter, Sir, is from your son. You will see by its contents that on your favourable and fatherly consideration of it, depend his future happiness and welfare. Will you oblige me by giving it the calmest and coolest perusal, and by discussing the subject afterw.irds, with me, in the tone and spirit in which alone it ought to be discussed? You may judge of the importance your decision is of, to your son, and his intense anxiety upon the subject, by my waiting upon you without any previous warning at so late an hour; and," added Mr. Pickwick, glancing slightly at his two companions, '' and under such unfavourable circumstances."

With this prelude, Mr. Pickwick placed four closely written sides of extra superfine wire-wove penitence in the hands of the astounded Mr. Winkle, senior ; and reseating himself in his chair, watched his looks and manner, anxiously it is true, but with the open front of a gentle- man who feels he has taken no part which he need excuse or palliate.

The old wharfinger turned the letter over ; looked at the front, back, and sides ; made a microscopic examination of the fat little boy on the seal ; raised his eyes to Mr. Pickwick's face ; and then, seating himself on the high stool and drawing the lamp closer to him, broke the wax, unfolded the epistle, and lifting it to the light, prepared to read.

Just at this moment, Mr. Eob Sawyer, whose wit had lain dormant for some minutes, placed his hands upon his knees and made a face after the portraits of the late Mr. Grimaldi, as clown. It so happened that Mr. Winkle, senior, instead of being deeply engaged in reading the letter, as Mr. Bob Sawyer thought, chanced to be looking over the top of it at no less a person than Mr. Bob Sawyer himself; and rightly conjecturing that the face aforesaid was made in ridicule and derision of his own person, he fixed his eyes on Bob with such expressive stern- ness, that the late Mr. Grimaldi's lineaments gradually resolved them- selves into a very fine expression of humility and confusion.

"Did you speak, Sir.?" enquired Mr. Winkle, senior, after an awful silence.

" No, Sir," replied Bob, with no remains of the clown about him, save and except the extreme redness of his cheeks.

" You are sure you did not. Sir ? " said Mr. Winkle, senior.

" Oh dear ! yes. Sir, quite," replied Bob.

emphasis. " Perhaps you looked at me. Sir.'*''
 * ^ I thought you did. Sir," rejoined the old gentleman, with indignant

" Oh, no! Sir, not at all," replied Bob, with extreme civility.

" I am very glad to hear it. Sir," said Mr. Winkle, senior. Having frowned upon the abashed Bob with great magnificence, the old gen- tleman again brought the letter to the light, and began to read it seriously.

Mr. Pickwick eyed him intently as he turned from the bottom line of the first page to the top line of the second, and from the bottom of the second to the top of the third, and from the bottom of the third to the top of the fourth ; but not the slightest alteration of countenance