第144章

WHICH CONTAINS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OFTHE ACTION OF BARDELL AGAINST PICKWICK

H AVING accomplished the main end and object of his journey, by the exposure of Jingle, Mr.Pickwick resolved on immediately returning to London, with the view of becoming acquainted with the proceedings which had been taken against him, in the meantime, by Messrs.Dodson and Fogg.Acting upon this resolution with all the energy and decision of his character, he mounted to the back seat of the first coach which left Ipswich on the morning after the memorable occurrences detailed at length in the two preceding chapters; and accompanied by his three friends, and Mr.Samuel Weller, arrived in the metropolis, in perfect health and safety, the same evening.

Here, the friends, for a short time, separated.Messrs.Tupman, Winkle, and Snodgrass repaired to their several homes to make such preparations as might be requisite for their forthcoming visit to Dingley Dell; and Mr.Pickwick and Sam took up their present abode in very good, old-fashioned, and comfortable quarters: to wit, the George and Vulture Tavern and Hotel, George Yard, Lombard Street.

Mr.Pickwick had dined, finished his second pint of particular port, pulled his silk handkerchief over his head, put his feet on the fender, and thrown himself back in an easy chair, when the entrance of Mr.Weller with his carpet bag, aroused him from his tranquil meditations.

"Sam," said Mr.Pickwick.

"Sir," said Mr.Weller.

"I have just been thinking, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick, "that having left a good many things at Mrs.Bardell's, in Goswell Street, I ought to arrange for taking them away, before I leave town again.""Wery good, sir," replied Mr.Weller.

"I could send them to Mr.Tupman's, for the present, Sam," continued Mr.Pickwick, "but before we take them away, it is necessary that they should be looked up, and put together.I wish you would step up to Goswell Street, Sam, and arrange about it.""At once, sir?" inquired Mr.Weller.

"At once," replied Mr.Pickwick."And stay, Sam," added Mr.Pickwick, pulling out his purse, "There is some rent to pay.The quarter is not due till Christmas, but you may pay it, and have done with it.A month's notice terminates my tenancy.Here it is, written out.Give it, and tell Mrs.

Bardell she may put a bill up, as soon as she likes.""Wery good, sir," replied Mr.Weller; "anythin' more, sir?""Nothing more, Sam."

Mr.Weller stepped slowly to the door, as if he expected something more;slowly opened it, slowly stepped out, and had slowly closed it within a couple of inches, when Mr.Pickwick called out, "Sam.""Sir," said Mr.Weller, stepping quickly back, and closing the door behind him.

"I have no objection, Sam, to your endeavouring to ascertain how Mrs.

Bardell herself seems disposed towards me, and whether it is really probable that this vile and groundless action is to be carried to extremity.I say I do not object to your doing this, if you wish it, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick.

Sam gave a short nod of intelligence, and left the room.Mr.Pickwick drew the silk handkerchief once more over his head, and composed himself for a nap.Mr.Weller promptly walked forth, to execute his commission.

It was nearly nine o'clock when he reached Goswell Street.A couple of candles were burning in the little front parlour, and a couple of caps were reflected on the window-blind.Mrs.Bardell had got company.

Mr.Weller knocked at the door, and after a pretty long interval--occupied by the party without, in whistling a tune, and by the party within, in persuading a refractory flat candle to allow itself to be lighted--a pair of small boots pattered over the floor-cloth, and Master Bardell presented himself.

"Well, young townskip," said Sam, "how's mother?""She's pretty well," replied Master Bardell, "so am I.""Well, that's a mercy," said Sam; "tell her I want to speak to her, will you, my hinfant fernomenon?"Master Bardell, thus adjured, placed the refractory flat candle on the bottom stair, and vanished into the front parlour with his message.

The two caps, reflected on the window-blind, were the respective head-dresses of a couple of Mrs.Bardell's most particular acquaintance, who had just stepped in, to have a quiet cup of tea, and a little warm supper of a couple of sets of pettitoes and some toasted cheese.The cheese was simmering and browning away, most delightfully, in a little Dutch oven before the fire; the pettitoes were getting on deliciously in a little tin saucepan on the hob; and Mrs.Bardell and her two friends were getting on very well, also in a little quiet conversation about and concerning all their particular friends and acquaintance; when Master Bardell came back from answering the door, and delivered the message intrusted to him by Mr.Samuel Weller.

"Mr.Pickwick's servant!" said Mrs.Bardell, turning pale.

"Bless my soul!" said Mrs.Cluppins.

"Well, I raly would not ha' believed it, unless I had ha' happened to ha' been here!" said Mrs.Sanders.

Mrs.Cluppins was a little brisk, busy-looking woman; Mrs.Sanders was a big, fat, heavy-faced personage; and the two were the company.

Mrs.Bardell felt it proper to be agitated; and as none of the three exactly knew whether, under existing circumstances, any communication, otherwise than through Dodson and Fogg, ought to be held with Mr.Pickwick's servant, they were all rather taken by surprise.In this state of indecision, obviously the first thing to be done, was to thump the boy for finding Mr.Weller at the door.So his mother thumped him, and he cried melodiously.

"Hold your noise--do--you naughty creetur!" said Mrs.Bardell.

"Yes; don't worrit your poor mother," said Mrs.Sanders.

"She's quite enough to worrit her, as it is, without you, Tommy," said Mrs.Cluppins, with sympathising resignation.

"Ah! worse luck, poor lamb!" said Mrs.Sanders.

At all which moral reflections, Master Bardell howled the louder.

"Now, what shall I do?" said Mrs.Bardell to Mrs.Cluppins.