第21章

Really，sir，saidMr。Winkle，hesitatingwhethertogivehishandornot，andalmostfearingthatitwasdemandedinorderthathemightbetakenatanadvantage，really，sir，I——

Iknowwhatyoumean，interposedDowler。Youfeelaggrieved。Verynatural。SoshouldI。Iwaswrong。Ibegyourpardon。Befriendly。Forgiveme。Withthis，DowlerfairlyforcedhishanduponMr。Winkle，andshakingitwiththeutmostvehemence，declaredhewasafellowofextremespirit，andhehadahigheropinionofhimthanever。

Now，saidDowler，sitdown。Relateitall。Howdidyoufindme？Whendidyoufollow？Befrank。Tellme。

It’squiteaccidental，repliedMr。Winkle，greatlyperplexedbythecuriousandunexpectednatureoftheinterview。Quite。

Gladofit，saidDowler。Iwokethismorning。Ihadforgottenmythreat。Ilaughedattheaccident。Ifeltfriendly。Isaidso。

Towhom？inquiredMr。Winkle。

ToMrs。Dowler。`Youmadeavow，’saidshe。`Idid，’saidI。`Itwasarashone，’saidshe。`Itwas，’saidI。`I’llapologise。Whereishe？’

Who？inquiredMr。Winkle。

You，repliedDowler。Iwentdown-stairs。Youwerenottobefound。

Pickwicklookedgloomy。Shookhishead。Hopednoviolencewouldbecommitted。

Isawitall。Youfeltyourselfinsulted。Youhadgone，forafriendperhaps。

Possiblyforpistols。`Highspirit，’saidI。`Iadmirehim。’

Mr。Winklecoughed，andbeginningtoseehowthelandlay，assumedalookofimportance。

Ileftanoteforyou，resumedDowler。IsaidIwassorry。SoIwas。

Pressingbusinesscalledmehere。Youwerenotsatisfied。Youfollowed。

Yourequiredaverbalexplanation。Youwereright。It’sallovernow。Mybusinessisfinished。Igobackto-morrow。Joinme。

AsDowlerprogressedinhisexplanation，Mr。Winkle’scountenancegrewmoreandmoredignified。Themysteriousnatureofthecommencementoftheirconversationwasexplained。Mr。Dowlerhadasgreatanobjectiontoduellingashimself。inshort，thisblusteringandawfulpersonagewasoneofthemostegregiouscowardsinexistence，andinterpretingMr。Winkle’sabsencethroughthemediumofhisownfears，hadtakenthesamestepashimself，andprudentlyretireduntilallexcitementoffeelingshouldhavesubsided。

AstherealstateofthecasedawneduponMr。Winkle’smind，helookedveryterrible，andsaidhewasperfectlysatisfied。butatthesametime，saidso，withanairthatleftMr。Dowlernoalternativebuttoinferthatifhehadnotbeen，somethingmosthorribleanddestructivemustinevitablyhaveoccurred。Mr。DowlerappearedtobeimpressedwithabecomingsenseofMr。Winkle’smagnanimityandcondescension。andthetwobelligerentspartedforthenight，withmanyprotestationsofeternalfriendship。

Abouthalf-pasttwelveo’clock，whenMr。Winklehadbeenrevellingsometwentyminutesinthefullluxuryofhisfirstsleep，hewassuddenlyawakenedbyaloudknockingathischamber-door，which，beingrepeatedwithincreasedvehemence，causedhimtostartupinbed，andinquirewhowasthere，andwhatthematterwas。

Please，sir，here’sayoungmanwhichsayshemustseeyoudirectly，

respondedthevoiceofthechambermaid。

Ayoungman！exclaimedMr。Winkle。

Nomistakeaboutthat’ere，sir，repliedanothervoicethroughthekeyhole。andifthatwerysameinterestin’youngcreeturain’tletinvithoutdelay，it’swerypossibleashislegsvillenteraforehiscountenance。

Theyoungmangaveagentlekickatoneofthelowerpanelsofthedoor，afterhehadgivenutterancetothishint，asiftoaddforceandpointtotheremark。

Isthatyou，Sam？inquiredMr。Winkle，springingoutofbed。

Quiteunpossibletoidentifyanygen’l’m’nvithanydegreeo’mentalsatisfaction，vithoutlookin’athim，sir，repliedthevoice，dogmatically。

Mr。Winkle，notmuchdoubtingwhotheyoungmanwas，unlockedthedoor。

whichhehadnosoonerdone，thanMr。SamuelWellerenteredwithgreatprecipitation，andcarefullyre-lockingitontheinside，deliberatelyputthekeyinhiswaistcoatpocket：and，aftersurveyingMr。Winklefromheadtofoot，said：

You’reaweryhumorousyounggen’l’m’n，youair，sir！

Whatdoyoumeanbythisconduct，Sam？inquiredMr。Winkle，indignantly。

Getout，sir，thisinstant。Whatdoyoumean，sir？

WhatdoImean，retortedSam。come，sir，thisisraythertoorich，astheyoungladysaid，wensheremonstratedwiththepastry-cook，arterhe’dsoldherapork-pieashadgotnothin’butfatinside。WhatdoImean！Well，thatain’tabad’un，thatain’t。

Unlockthatdoor，andleavethisroomimmediately，sir，saidMr。Winkle。

Ishallleavethishereroom，sir，justpreciselyatthewerysamemomentasyouleavesit，respondedSam，speakinginaforciblemanner，andseatinghimselfwithperfectgravity。IfIfinditnecessarytocarryyouaway，pick-a-back，o’courseIshallleaveittheleastbito’timepossibleaforeyou。butallowmetoexpressahopeasyouwon’treducemetoex-tremities。insayingwich，Imerelyquotewotthenoblemansaidtothefractiouspennywinkle，venhevouldn’tcomeoutofhisshellbymeansofapin，andheconseqventlybegantobeafeeredthatheshouldbeobligedtocrackhimintheparlour-door。Attheendofthisaddress，whichwasunusuallylengthyforhim，Mr。Wellerplantedhishandsonhisknees，andlookedfullinMr。Winkle’sface，withanexpressionofcountenancewhichshowedthathehadnottheremotestintentionofbeingtrifledwith。

You’reaamiably-disposedyoungman，sir，Idon’tthink，resumedMr。

Weller，inatoneofmoralreproof，togoinwolvingourpreciousgovernorinallsortso’fanteegs，wenhe’smadeuphismindtogothrougheverythinkforprinciple。You’refarworsenorDodson，sir。andasforFogg，Iconsiderhimabornangeltoyou！Mr。Wellerhavingaccompaniedthislastsentimentwithanemphaticslaponeachknee，foldedhisarmswithalookofgreatdisgust，andthrewhimselfbackinhischair，asifawaitingthecriminal’sdefence。

Mygoodfellow，saidMr。Winkle，extendinghishand。histeethchatteringallthetimehespoke，forhehadbeenstanding，duringthewholeofMr。

Weller’slecture，inhisnight-gear。Mygoodfellow，Irespectyourattachmenttomyexcellentfriend，andIamverysorryindeed，tohaveaddedtohiscausesfordisquiet。There，Sam，there！

Well，saidSam，rathersulkily，butgivingtheprofferedhandarespectfulshakeatthesametime：Well，soyououghttobe，andIamwerygladtofindyouair。for，ifIcanhelpit，Iwon’thavehimputuponbynobody，andthat’sallaboutit。

Certainlynot，Sam，saidMr。Winkle。There！Nowgotobed，Sam，andwe’lltalkfurtheraboutthis，inthemorning。

I’mwerysorry，saidSam，butIcan’tgotobed。

Notgotobed！repeatedMr。Winkle。

No，saidSam，shakinghishead。Can’tbedone。

Youdon’tmeantosayyou’regoingbackto-night，Sam？urgedMr。Winkle，greatlysurprised。

Notunlessyouparticklerlywishit，repliedSam。butImustn’tleavethishereroom。Thegovernor’sorderswosperemptory。

Nonsense，Sam，saidMr。Winkle，Imuststopheretwoorthreedays。

andmorethanthat，Sam，youmuststopheretoo，toassistmeingaininganinterviewwithayounglady——MissAllen，Sam。yourememberher——whomImustandwillseebeforeIleaveBristol。

Butinreplytoeachofthesepositions，Samshookhisheadwithgreatfirmness，andenergeticallyreplied，Itcan’tbedone。

AfteragreatdealofargumentandrepresentationonthepartofMr。

Winkle，however，andafulldisclosureofwhathadpassedintheinterviewwithDowler，Sambegantowaver。andatlengthacompromisewaseffected，ofwhichthefollowingwerethemainandprincipalconditions：

ThatSamshouldretire，andleaveMr。Winkleintheundisturbedpossessionofhisapartment，ontheconditionthathehadpermissiontolockthedoorontheoutside，andcarryoffthekey。providedalways，thatintheeventofanalarmoffire，orotherdangerouscontingency，thedoorshouldbeinstantlyunlocked。ThatalettershouldbewrittentoMr。Pickwickearlynextmorning，andforwardedperDowler，requestinghisconsenttoSamandMr。Winkle’sremainingatBristol，forthepurpose，andwiththeobject，alreadyassigned，andbeggingananswerbythenextcoach。iffavourable，theaforesaidpartiestoremainaccordingly，andifnot，toreturntoBathimmediatelyonthereceiptthereof。And，lastly，thatMr。Winkleshouldbeunderstoodasdistinctlypledginghimselfnottoresorttothewindow，fireplace，orothersurreptitiousmodeofescape，inthemeanwhile。Thesestipulationshavingbeenconcluded，Samlockedthedooranddeparted。

Hehadnearlygotdown-stairs，whenhestopped，anddrewthekeyfromhispocket。

Iquiteforgotabouttheknockin’down，saidSam，halfturningback。

Thegovernordistinctlysaiditwastobedone。Amazin’stupido’me，that’ere！Nevermind，saidSam，brighteningup，it’seasilydoneto-morrow，anyvays。

Apparentlymuchconsoledbythisreflection，Mr。Welleroncemoredepositedthekeyinhispocket，anddescendingtheremainderofthestairswithoutanyfreshvisitationsofconscience，wassoon，incommonwiththeotherinmatesofthehouse，buriedinprofoundrepose。

[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter39[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXXIXMR。SAMUELWELLER，BEINGENTRUSTEDWITHAMISSION

OFLOVE，PROCEEDSTOEXECUTEIT。WITHWHATSUCCESSWILLHEREINAFTERAPPEAR

DURINGthewholeofnextday，SamkeptMr。Winklesteadilyinsight，fullydeterminednottotakehiseyeoffhimforoneinstant，untilheshouldreceiveexpressinstructionsfromthefountain-head。

HoweverdisagreeableSam’sveryclosewatchandgreatvigilanceweretoMr。Winkle，hethoughtitbettertobearwiththem，than，byanyactofviolentopposition，tohazardbeingcarriedawaybyforce，whichMr。Wellermorethanoncestronglyhintedwasthelineofconductthatastrictsenseofdutypromptedhimtopursue。ThereislittlereasontodoubtthatSamwouldveryspeedilyhavequietedhisscruples，bybearingMr。WinklebacktoBath，boundhandandfoot，hadnotMr。Pickwick’spromptattentiontothenote，whichDowlerhadundertakentodeliver，forestalledanysuchproceeding。Inshort，ateighto’clockintheevening，Mr。Pickwickhimselfwalkedintothecoffee-roomoftheBushtavern，andtoldSamwithasmile，tohisverygreatrelief，thathehaddonequiteright，anditwasunnecessaryforhimtomountguardanylonger。

Ithoughtitbettertocomemyself，saidMr。Pickwick，addressingMr。Winkle，asSamdisencumberedhimofhisgreat-coatandtravellingshawl，toascertain，beforeIgavemyconsenttoSam’semploymentinthismatter，thatyouarequiteinearnestandserious，withrespecttothisyounglady。

Serious，frommyheart——frommysoul！returnedMr。Winkle，withgreatenergy。

Remember，saidMr。Pickwick，withbeamingeyes，wemetheratourexcellentandhospitablefriend’s，Winkle。Itwouldbeanillreturntotamperlightly，andwithoutdueconsiderationwiththisyounglady’saffections。

I’llnotallowthat，sir。I’llnotallowit。

Ihavenosuchintention，indeed，exclaimedMr。Winkle，warmly。I

haveconsideredthematterwell，foralongtime，andIfeelthatmyhappinessisboundupinher。

That’swotwecalltyingitupinasmallparcel，sir，interposedMr。Weller，withanagreeablesmile。

Mr。Winklelookedsomewhatsternatthisinterruption，andMr。Pickwickangrilyrequestedhisattendantnottojestwithoneofthebestfeelingsofournature。towhichSamreplied，Thathewouldn’t，ifhewasawareonit。butthereweresomanyon’em，thathehardlyknow’dwhichwasthebestoneswenheheerd’emmentioned。

Mr。WinklethenrecountedwhathadpassedbetweenhimselfandMr。BenAllen，relativetoArabella。statedthathisobjectwastogainaninterviewwiththeyounglady，andmakeaformaldisclosureofhispassion。anddeclaredhisconviction，foundedoncertaindarkhintsandmutteringsoftheaforesaidBen，that，wherevershewasatpresentimmured，itwassomewhereneartheDowns。Andthiswashiswholestockofknowledgeorsuspiciononthesubject。

Withthisveryslightcluetoguidehim，itwasdeterminedthatMr。

Wellershouldstartnextmorningonanexpeditionofdiscovery。itwasalsoarrangedthatMr。PickwickandMr。Winkle，whowerelessconfidentoftheirpowers，shouldparadethetownmeanwhile，andaccidentallydropinuponMr。BobSawyerinthecourseoftheday，inthehopeofseeingorhearingsomethingoftheyounglady’swhereabout。

Accordingly，nextmorning，SamWellerissuedforthuponhisquest，innowaydauntedbytheverydiscouragingprospectbeforehim。andawayhewalked，uponestreetanddownanother——weweregoingtosay，uponehillanddownanother，onlyit’salluphillatClifton——withoutmeetingwithanythingoranybodythattendedtothrowthefaintestlightonthematterinhand。ManywerethecolloquiesintowhichSamenteredwithgroomswhowereairinghorsesonroads，andnursemaidswhowereairingchildreninlanes。butnothingcouldSamelicitfromeitherthefirst-mentionedorthelast，whichboretheslightestreferencetotheobjectofhisartfully-prosecutedinquiries。Therewereagreatmanyyoungladiesinagreatmanyhouses，thegreaterpartwhereofwereshrewdlysuspectedbythemaleandfemaledomesticstobedeeplyattachedtosomebody，orperfectlyreadytobecomeso，ifopportunityoffered。ButasnoneamongtheseyoungladieswasMissArabellaAllen，theinformationleftSamatexactlytheoldpointofwisdomatwhichhehadstoodbefore。

SamstruggledacrosstheDownsagainstagoodhighwindwonderingwhetheritwasalwaysnecessarytoholdyourhatonwithbothhandsinthatpartofthecountry，andcametoashadyby-placeaboutwhichweresprinkledseverallittlevillasofquietandsecludedappearance。Outsideastable-dooratthebottomofalongbacklanewithoutathoroughfare，agroominundresswasidlingabout，apparentlypersuadinghimselfthathewasdoingsomethingwithaspadeandawheelbarrow。Wemayremark，inthisplace，thatwehavescarcelyeverseenagroomnearastable，inhislazymoments，whohasnotbeen，toagreaterorlessextent，thevictimofthissingulardelusion。

Samthoughthemightaswelltalktothisgroomastoanyoneelse，especiallyashewasverytiredwithwalking，andtherewasagoodlargestonejustoppositethewheelbarrow。sohestrolleddownthelane，and，seatinghimselfonthestone，openedaconversationwiththeeaseandfreedomforwhichhewasremarkable。

Mornin’，oldfriend，saidSam。

Arternoon，youmean，repliedthegroom，castingasurlylookatSam。

You’reweryright，oldfriend，saidSam。Idomeanarternoon。

Howareyou？

Why，Idon’tfindmyselfmuchthebetterforseeingofyou，repliedtheill-temperedgroom。

That’sweryodd——thatis，saidSam，foryoulooksouncommoncheerful，andseemaltogethersolively，thatitdoesvun’sheartgoodtoseeyou。

Thesurlygroomlookedsurlierstillatthis，butnotsufficientlysotoproduceanyeffectuponSam，whoimmediatelyinquired，withacountenanceofgreatanxiety，whetherhismaster’snamewasnotWalker。

No，itain’t，saidthegroom。

NorBrown，Is’pose？saidSam。

No，itain’t。

NorVilson？

No。northatneither，saidthegroom。

Vell，repliedSam，thenI’mmistaken，andhehasn’tgotthehonoro’myacquaintance，whichIthoughthehad。Don’twaithereouto’complimenttome，saidSam，asthegroomwheeledinthebarrow，andpreparedtoshutthegate。Easeaforeceremony，oldboy。I’llexcuseyou。

I’dknockyourheadoffforhalf-a-crown，saidthesurlygroom，boltingonehalfofthegate。

Coudn’taffordtohaveitdoneonthoseterms，rejoinedSam。It’udbeworthalife’sboardvagesatleast，toyou，and’udbecheapatthat。

Makemycomplimentsindoors。Tell’emnottovaitdinnerforme，andsaytheyneedn’tmindputtin’anyby，forit’llbecoldaforeIcomein。

Inreplytothis，thegroomwaxingverywroth，mutteredadesiretodamagesomebody’sperson。butdisappearedwithoutcarryingitintoexecution，slammingthedoorangrilyafterhim，andwhollyunheedingSam’saffectionaterequest，thathewouldleavehimalockofhishairbeforehewent。

Samcontinuedtositonthelargestone，meditatinguponwhatwasbesttobedone，andrevolvinginhismindaplanforknockingatallthedoorswithinfivemilesofBristol，takingthematahundredandfiftyortwohundredaday，andendeavouringtofindMissArabellabythatexpedient，whenaccidentallofasuddenthrewinhiswaywhathemighthavesatthereforatwelvemonthandyetnotfoundwithoutit。

Intothelanewherehesat，thereopenedthreeorfourgarden-gates，belongingtoasmanyhouses，whichthoughdetachedfromeachother，wereonlyseparatedbytheirgardens。Asthesewerelargeandlong，andwellplantedwithtrees，thehouseswerenotonlyatsomedistanceoff，butthegreaterpartofthemwerenearlyconcealedfromview。Samwassittingwithhiseyesfixeduponthedustheapoutsidethenextgatetothatbywhichthegroomhaddisappeared，profoundlyturningoverinhismindthedifficultiesofhispresentundertaking，whenthegateopened，andafemaleservantcameoutintothelanetoshakesomebed-sidecarpets。

Samwassoverybusywithhisownthoughts，thatitisprobablehewouldhavetakennomorenoticeoftheyoungwomanthanjustraisinghisheadandremarkingthatshehadaveryneatandprettyfigure，ifhisfeelingsofgallantryhadnotbeenmoststronglyrousedbyobservingthatshehadnoonetohelpher，andthatthecarpetsseemedtooheavyforhersinglestrength。Mr。Wellerwasagentlemanofgreatgallantryinhisownway，andhenosoonerremarkedthiscircumstancethanhehastilyrosefromthelargestone，andadvancedtowardsher。

Mydear，saidSam，slidingupwithanairofgreatrespect，You’llspilethatweryprettyfigureouto’allperportionifyoushakethemcarpetsbyyourself。Letmehelpyou。

Theyounglady，whohadbeencoylyaffectingnottoknowthatagentlemanwassonear，turnedroundasSamspoke——nodoubt(indeedshesaidso，afterwards)

todeclinethisofferfromaperfectstranger——wheninsteadofspeaking，shestartedback，andutteredahalf-suppressedscream。Samwasscarcelylessstupefied，forinthecountenanceofthewell-shapedfemaleservant，hebeheldtheveryeyesofhisValentine，theprettyhousemaidfromMr。

Nupkins’s。

Wy，Marymydear！saidSam。

Lauk，Mr。Weller，saidMary，howyoudofrightenone！

Sammadenoverbalanswertothiscomplaint，norcanwepreciselysaywhatreplyhedidmake。WemerelyknowthatafterashortpauseMarysaid，Lor’，doadun，Mr。Weller！andthathishathadfallenoffafewmomentsbefore——frombothofwhichtokensweshouldbedisposedtoinferthatonekissormore，hadpassedbetweentheparties。

Why，howdidyoucomehere？saidMary，whentheconversationtowhichthisinterruptionhadbeenoffered，wasresumed。

O’courseIcametolookarteryou，mydarlin’，repliedMr。Weller。

foroncepermittinghispassiontogetthebetterofhisveracity。

AndhowdidyouknowIwashere？inquiredMary。WhocouldhavetoldyouthatItookanotherserviceatIpswich，andthattheyafterwardsmovedallthewayhere？Whocouldhav