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POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

to bring his mother up to town. Communicating his intelligence to the old lady with characteristic impetuosity, she instantly fainted away, but being promptly revived, ordered the brocaded silk gown to be packed up forthwith, and proceeded to relate some circumstances of a similar nature attending the marriage of the eldest daughter of lady Tollinglower, deceased, which occupied three hours in the recital, and were not half finished at last.

Mrs. Trundle had to be informed of all the mighty preparations that were making in London ; and being in a delicate state of health was informed thereof through Mr. Trundle, lest the news should be too much for her ; but it was not too much for her, inasmuch as she at once Avrote off to IMuggleton to order a new cap and a black satin gown, and moreover avowed her determination of being present at the ceremony. Hereupon Mr. Trundle called in the doctor, and the doctor said Mrs. Trundle ought to know best how she felt herself, to which Mrs. Trundle replied that she felt herself quite equal to it, and that she had made up her mind to go ; upon which the doctor, who was a wise and discreet doctor, and knew what was good for himself as well as for other people, said, that perhaps if Mrs. Trundle stopped at home she might hurt herself more by fretting than by going, so perhaps she had better go. And she did go ; the doctor with great attention sending in half a dozen of medicine to be drunk upon the road.

In addition to these points of distraction, Wardle was entrusted with two small letters to two small young ladies who were to act as bridesmaids ; upon the receipt of which, the two young ladies were driven to despair by having ho " things" ready for so important an occasion, and no time to make them in — a circumstance which appeared to afford the two worthy papas of the two small young ladies rather a feeling of satisfaction than otherwise. However, old frocks were trimmed and new bomiets made, and the young ladies looked as well as could possibly have been expected of them ; and as they cried at the subsequent ceremony in the proper places and trembled at the right times,, they acquitted themselves to the admiration of all beholders.

How the two poor relations ever reached London — whether they "walked, or got behind coaches, or procured lifts in wagons, or carried each other — is uncertain, but there they were, before Wardle ; and the very first people that knocked at the door of Mr. Pickwick's house on the bridal morning, were the two poor relations, all smiles and shirt- collar.

They were welcomed heartily though, for riches or poverty had no influence on Mr. Pickwick ; the new servants were all alacrity and readi- ness : Sam in a most unrivalled state of high spirits and excitement, and Mary glowing with beauty and smart ribands.

The bridegroom, who had been staying at the house for two or three days previously, sallied forth gallantly to Dulwich church to meet the bride, attended by Mr. Pickwick, Ben Allen, Bob Sawyer, and Mr. Tupman, with. Sam Weller outside, having at his button hole a white favour, the gift of his lady love, and clad in a new and gorgeous suit of livery invented expressly for the occasion. They were met by the Wardles, and the Winkles, and the bride and bridesmaids, and the