The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club

Position, that the Course o

h-me-not-ishness in the walk, a majesty in the eye, of the spinster aunt, to which, at their time of life, they could lay no claim, which distinguished her from any female on whom Mr. Tupman had ever gazed. That there was something kindred in their nature, something congenial in their souls, something mysteriously sympathetic in their bosoms, was evident. Her name was the first that rose to Mr. Tupman's lips as he lay wounded on the grass; and her hysteric laughter was th

t kitchen; the buxom servants were lounging at the side door, enjoying the pleasantness of the hour, and the delights of a flirtation, on first principles, with certain unwieldy animals attached to the fa

my flowers,' said

id Mr. Tupman, in ac

evening air,' urged the s

rising; 'it will do me go

h the left arm of the youth was placed, and

essamine, and creeping plants - one of those sweet retrea

y in one corner, and was about to leave the arbour. Mr.

l some pebbles which had accidentally found their way i

id Mr. Tupman, 'y

achael, blushing as red a

ent Pickwickian -'I k

s, they say,' murmur

ver seen who resembled you? Where else could I hope to find so rare a combination of excellence and beauty? Where else

head. 'Men are such deceiv

er change - one being who would be content to devote his whole existence to your happiness - who lives bu

dividual be found

He IS found. He is here, Miss Wardle.' And ere the lady was aware

, rise,' sa

er passive hand, and the watering-pot fell to the ground as

rted head, 'I can hardly speak the words; but

le so circumstanced always do. He jumped up, and, throwing his arm round the neck of the spinster aunt, imprinted upon her lips numerous kisses, which after a due show of struggling and resis

re observed! - we

ld have referred to astonishment, curiosity, or any other known passion that agitates the human breast. Mr. Tupman gazed on the fat boy, and the fat boy stared at him; and the longer Mr. Tupman observed the utte

you want

y, sir,' was t

, sir?' inquired Mr. Tup

eplied th

again; but there was not a wink i

nster aunt, and walked towards the

of what has happ

said the sp

r. Tupman turned sharply round. No; it could not have been the fat boy; t

fast asleep,' whi

t doubt of it,' repl

laughed

, had not been fast asleep. He was awake -

rdle devoted herself exclusively to Mr. Trundle; the spinster's attentions were reserved for Mr. Tupman; and E

nterns in every direction by which they could be supposed likely to have travelled home? or should they - Hark! there they were. What could have made them so late? A strange voic

scernible cause or pretence whatsoever; old Mr. Wardle, with a highly-inflamed countenance, was grasping the hand of a strange gentleman muttering protestations of eternal friendship; Mr. Winkle, supporting himself by the eight-day clock, was feebly invoking destruction upon the

matter?' inquired

kwick. 'We - we're - all right. - I s

dears, here's my friend Mr. Jingle - Mr. Pickwic

Mr. Snodgrass, Sir?' inquir

ricket dinner - glorious party - capital songs - old

n a broken voice. 'It was the salmon.' (Somehow

m?' inquired Emma. 'Two of the boys

bed,' said Mr

ckwick stoutly; and he went on smiling as b

t on the floor, and insanely casting his spectacles into the mi

; in which condition he was borne to his apartment by two young giants under the personal superintendence of the fat boy, to whose protecting care Mr. Snodgrass shortly afterwards confided his own person, Mr. Pickwick accepted the proffered arm of Mr. Tupman and quietly disappeared, smiling more than ever; and

jaculated both t

grave: he was about a bottle and a half ahead of

hispered the spinste

too!' whisper

,' observed th

his anecdotes was only to be exceeded by the extent of his politeness. Mr. Tupman felt that as Jingle's popularity increased, he (Tupman) retired further into the shade. His laughter was forced - his merriment feigned

promote the hilarity of the breakfast-table. So successful were his efforts, that even the deaf old lady insisted on having one or two of his best jokes retailed through the trumpet; and even

droom door, a close black satin bonnet, a warm cotton shawl, and a thick stick with a capacious handle; and the old lady, having put on the bonnet and shawl at her leisure, would lean one hand on the stick and the other on t

ion from the accustomed form, she was not a little surprised on this particular morning to see the fat boy, instead of leaving the arbour, walk a f

self of her loose coin. She would have cried for assistance, but age and infirmity had long ago deprived her of the power of screaming; she, therefore, watched his motions with

ssu

and stopped to hear more. There were three reasons for his doing so. In the first place, he was idle and curious; secondly, he was by

shouted th

mistress to you, Joe. You have invariably been treated very kindly. You

st sensitive feelings. He seemed touched, a

to do now?' said the o

your flesh creep,

; and as the old lady did not precisely understand the process by whi

in this very arbour last

old lady, alarmed at the solem

him as had his arm hurt

hope.' 'Worser than that,' roared

f my grand

r than

had thought this the extreme limit of human atr

nd, and having concluded his surv

Rach

lady, in a shrill t

el,' roared

da'a

ve by way of assent, communicated a bl

the old lady. A grin stole over

a-kissin' o

ld have betrayed his close vicinity to the summer-house. He listened attentively. Fragments of angry sentences such as, 'Without my permission!'-'At her time of life'-'Miserable old 'ooman l

ns disagreeable to the fair object of his attack; and he had more than a strong suspicion that she possessed that most desirable of all requisites, a small independence. The imperative necessity of ousting his rival by some means or other, flashed quickly upon him, and he immediately resolved to adopt certain proceedi

, approached the house. Fortune seemed determined to favour his design. Mr. Tupman and the rest of the gentlemen left the garden by the s

ng. He coughed; she looked up and smiled. Hesitation formed no part of Mr. Alfred Jingle'

earnestness, 'forgive intrusion - short acquai

onished by the unexpected apparition and

umpling face - round eyes - rascal!' Here he shook his head

h, Sir?' said the lady, making

old lady - old lady furious - wild - raving - arbour - Tupman -

inster aunt, 'if you come

to warn you of your danger - tender my services - prevent the hubbub. Never mind - thin

r spinster, bursting into tears

rageous.' 'Oh, Mr. Jingle, what CAN I say!' exclai

it,' replied Mr

e spinster aunt at this suggestion. Mr. Jingl

oy - lovely woman - fat boy horsewhipped - you

to the spinster's feelings, or whether the hearing herself described as a 'lovely woman' softened t

es on the spinster aunt's face for a couple of minutes

ice. 'May I show my gratitude for your kind interference, by inq

mplates a design upon the affections of the niece of the creature who - but no; he is my friend; I will not expose his vices. Miss Wardle - farewell!' At the conclusion

aunt emphatically. 'You have made an

'Never!' and, by way of showing that he had no desire to be questioned

I implore you, if there is any dreadful my

eature - sacrificed at the shrine - heartless avarice!' He appeared to be struggling

ly wants y

ith energetic indignation. (Mr. Jingle'

,' said Jingle

pinster. 'Who?' 'Short girl

was a

-rooted jealousy, it was this identical niece. The colour rushed over her face and neck, and she tossed her

e. I won't

em,' sai

' said t

his l

wil

whisp

wil

next her

t h

flatt

t h

r every possi

t h

e'll c

t. 'HE cut ME; will he!' and she tr

ince yourself?

wil

show you

'll not have h

ev

e somebody

sha

thereafter; and rose the accepted lover of the spinster aunt - con

ould hardly believe her eyes. Mr. Tracy Tupman was established at Emily's side, ogling, whispering, and smiling, in oppos

- He had heard the story from his mother. 'Damn that

t. 'Dear Mr. Jingle was not deceivi

our readers this apparently unaccountable alterat

in a side path; one was rather short and stout; the other tall and slim. Th

do it?' h

myself - you must repeat the part to-mor

hael stil

ion - afraid of her brother - says there's no help for it - only

mes

egards - unalterable affectio

how hard I find it to dissemble - say anything that's kind: but add how sensible I am of the necessity of the suggestio

or the time when I may call her mine, an

certainly. A

st thanks for your disinterested kindness; and forgive me if I have ever, even in thought, done yo

enly recollecting something, and said -'By the bye - can't spare ten

. Tupman, in the fulness of hi

man counted the money into his companion's hand, and he dropped i

said Mr. Jingl

k,' said M

a syl

a whi

ther rude, than otherwise, to the aunt

re,' said Mr.

d Mr. Jingle internally;

rge against Mr. Tupman. So was Mr. Tupman, for Mr. Jingle had told him that his affair would soon be brought to a crisis. So was Mr. Pickwick, for he was seldom otherwise. So was not Mr. Snodgrass, for he had grown jealo