Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/715

605 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 605

Here Mr. Pickwick paused, and a low murmur ran round the table.

'' The house I have taken," said Mr. Pickwick, " is at Duiwich ; it has a large garden, and is situated in one of the most pleasant spots near London. It has been fitted up with every attention to sub- stantial comfort ; perhaps to a little elegance besides ; but of that you shall judge for yourselves. Sam accompanies me there. I hare engaged, on Perker's representation, a housekeeper — a very old one — and such other servants as she thinks I shall require. I propose to consecrate this little retreat by having a ceremony, in which I take a great interest, performed there. I wish, if my friend Wardle entertains no objection, that his daughter should be married from my new house, on the day I take possession of it. The happiness of young people," said Mr. Pickwick, a little moved, " has ever been the chief pleasure of my life. It will warm my heart to witness the happiness of those friends who are dearest to me, beneath my own roof."

Mr. Pickwick paused again: and Emily and Arabella sobbed audibly.

" I have communicated, both personally and by letter, with the club,'* resumed Mr. Pickwick, " acquainting them with my intention. During our long absence it has suffered much from internal dissen- sions ; and the withdrawal of my name, coupled with this and other circumstances, has occasioned its dissolution. The Pickwick Club exists no longer."

" I shall never regret," said Mr. Pickwick in a low voice — " I shall never regret having devoted the greater part of two years to mixing with different varieties and shades of human character, frivolous as my pursuit of novelty may have appeared to many. Nearly the whole of my previous life having been devoted to business and the pursuit of wealth, numerous scenes of which I had no previous conception have dawned upon me — I hope to the enlargement of my mind, and the improvement of my understanding. If I have done but little good, I trust I have done less harm, and that none of my adventures will be other than a source of amusing and pleasant recollections to me in the decline of life. God bless you all."

With these words, Mr. Pickwick filled and drained a bumper with a trembling hand ; and his eyes moistened as his friends rose with one accord and pledged him from their hearts.

There were very few preparatory arrangements to be made for the marriage of Mr. Snodgrass. As he had neither father nor mother, and had been in his minority a ward of Mr. Pickwick's, that gentleman was perfectly well acquainted with his possessions and prospects. His account* of both was quite satisfactory to Wardle — as almost any other account would have been, for the good old gentleman was overflowing with hilarity and kindness— and a handsome portion having been bestowed upon Emily, the marriage was fixed to take place on the fourth day from that time; the suddenness of which preparations reduced three dress-makers and a tailor to the extreme verge of insanity.

Getting post-horses to the carriage, old Wardle started oflf next day,