Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/92

50 50 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

these parts. Joe — damn that boy, he's asleep again — Joe take that horse from the gentleman, and lead it into the stable."

The fat boy sauntered heavily behind them with the animal ; and the old gentleman condoling with his guests in homely phrase, on so much of the day's adventures as they thought proper to communicate, led the way to the kitchen.

" We'll have you put to rights here," said the old gentleman, " and then I'll introduce you to the people in the parlour. Emma, bring out the cherry brandy ; now, Jane, a needle and thread here ; towels and water, Mary. Come, girls, bustle about."

Three or four buxom girls speedily dispersed in search of the different articles in requisition, while a couple of large-headed, circular- visaged males rose from their seats in the chimney corner, (for although it was a May evening, their attachment to the wood fire appeared as cordial as if it were Christmas,) and dived into some obscure recesses, from which they speedily produced a bottle of blacking, and some half-dozen brushes.

" Bustle," said the old gentleman again, but the admonition was quite unnecessary, for one of the girls poured out the cherry brandy, and another brought in the towels, and one of the men suddenly seizing Mr. Pickwick by the leg, at the imminent hazard of throwing him off his balance, brushed away at his boot, till his corns were red-hot ; while the other shampoo'd Mr Winkle with a heavy clothes brush, indulging, during the operation, in that hissing sound, which hostlers are wont to produce, when engaged in rubbing down a horse.

Mr. Snodgrass, having concluded his ablutions, took a survey of the room, while standing with his back to the fire, sipping his cherry brandy with heartfelt satisfaction. He describes it, as a large apart- ment, with a red brick floor, and a capacious chimney ; the ceiling gar- nished with hams, sides of bacon, and ropes of onions. The walls were decorated with several hunting-whips, two or three bridles, a saddle, and an old rusty blunderbuss, with an inscription below it, intimating that it was " Loaded " — as it had been, on the same authority, for half a cen- tury at least. An old eight-day clock, of solemn and sedate demeanour, ticked gravely in one corner ; and a silver watch, of equal antiquity, dangled from one of the many hooks which ornamented the dresser.

" Ready ? " said the old gentleman inquiringly, when his guests had been washed, mended, brushed, and brandied.


 * ' Quite," replied Mr. Pickwick.

" Come along then," and the party having traversed several dark passages, and being joined by Mr. 'i'upman, who had lingered behind to snatch a kiss from Emma, for which he had been duly rewarded with sundry pushings and scratchings arrived at the parlour door.

" Welcome," said their hospitable host, throwing it open and stepping forward to announce them, "Welcome, gentlemen, to Manor Farm."