第27章

Thisadvicequitecoincidingwithhisownopinion，Mr。Pickwickgentlyletdownthewindowanddisengagedthebottlefromthestick：uponwhichthelatterwasdrawnup，andMr。BobSawyerwasheardtolaughheartily。

Whatamerrydogitis！saidMr。Pickwick，lookingroundathiscompanionwiththebottleinhishand。

Heis，saidMr。Allen。

Youcannotpossiblybeangrywithhim，remarkedMr。Pickwick。

Quiteoutofthequestion，observedBenjaminAllen。

Duringthisshortinterchangeofsentiments，Mr。Pickwickhad，inanabstractedmood，uncorkedthebottle。

Whatisit？inquiredBenAllen，carelessly。

Idon’tknow，repliedMr。Pickwick，withequalcarelessness。Itsmells，Ithink，likemilk-punch。

Oh，indeed！saidBen。

Ithinkso，rejoinedMr。Pickwick，veryproperlyguardinghimselfagainstthepossibilityofstatinganuntruth：mind，Icouldnotundertaketosaycertainly，withouttastingit。

Youhadbetterdoso，saidBen。wemayaswellknowwhatitis。

Doyouthinkso？repliedMr。Pickwick。Well。ifyouarecurioustoknow，ofcourseIhavenoobjection。

Everwillingtosacrificehisownfeelingstothewishesofhisfriend，Mr。Pickwickatoncetookaprettylongtaste。

Whatisit？inquiredBenAllen，interruptinghimwithsomeimpatience。

Curious，saidMr。Pickwick，smackinghislips，Ihardlyknow，now。

Oh，yes！saidMr。Pickwick，afterasecondtaste。Itispunch。

Mr。BenAllenlookedatMr。Pickwick。Mr。PickwicklookedatMr。BenAllen。Mr。BenAllensmiled。Mr。Pickwickdidnot。

Itwouldservehimright，saidthelast-namedgentleman，withsomeseverity，itwouldservehimrighttodrinkiteverydrop。

Theverythingthatoccurredtome，saidBenAllen。

Isitindeed？rejoinedMr。Pickwick。Thenhere’shishealth！Withthesewords，thatexcellentpersontookamostenergeticpullatthebottle，andhandedittoBenAllen，whowasnotslowtoimitatehisexample。Thesmilesbecamemutual，andthemilk-punchwasgraduallyandcheerfullydisposedof。

Afterall，saidMr。Pickwick，ashedrainedthelastdrop，hispranksarereallyveryamusing。veryentertainingindeed。

Youmaysaythat，rejoinedMr。BenAllen。InproofofBobSawyer’sbeingoneofthefunniestfellowsalive，heproceededtoentertainMr。

Pickwickwithalongandcircumstantialaccounthowthatgentlemanoncedrankhimselfintoafeverandgothisheadshaved。therelationofwhichpleasantandagreeablehistorywasonlystoppedbythestoppageofthechaiseattheBellatBerkeleyHeath，tochangehorses。

Isay！We’regoingtodinehere，aren’twe？saidBob，lookinginatthewindow。

Dine！saidMr。Pickwick。Why，wehaveonlycomenineteenmiles，andhaveeighty-sevenandahalftogo。

Justthereasonwhyweshouldtakesomethingtoenableustobearupagainstthefatigue，remonstratedMr。BobSawyer。

Oh，it’squiteimpossibletodineathalf-pasteleveno’clockintheday，repliedMr。Pickwick，lookingathiswatch。

Soitis，rejoinedBob，lunchistheverything。Hallo，yousir！

Lunchforthree，directly，andkeepthehorsesbackforaquarterofanhour。Tellthemtoputeverythingtheyhavecold，onthetable，andsomebottledale，andletustasteyourverybestMadeira。Issuingtheseorderswithmonstrousimportanceandbustle，Mr。BobSawyeratoncehurriedintothehousetosuperintendthearrangements。inlessthanfiveminuteshereturnedanddeclaredthemtobeexcellent。

ThequalityofthelunchfullyjustifiedtheeulogiumwhichBobhadpronounced，andverygreatjusticewasdonetoit，notonlybythatgentleman，butMr。BenAllenandMr。Pickwickalso。Undertheauspicesofthethree，thebottledaleandthemadeirawerepromptlydisposedof。andwhen(thehorsesbeingoncemoreputto)theyresumedtheirseats，withthecase-bottlefullofthebestsubstituteformilk-punchthatcouldbeprocuredonsoshortanotice，thekey-buglesounded，andtheredflagwaved，withouttheslightestoppositiononMr。Pickwick’spart。

AttheHopPoleatTewkesbury，theystoppedtodine。uponwhichoccasiontherewasmorebottledale，withsomemoreMadeira，andsomePortbesides。

andherethecasebottlewasreplenishedforthefourthtime。Undertheinfluenceofthesecombinedstimulants，Mr。PickwickandMr。BenAllenfellfastasleepforthirtymiles，whileBobandMr。Wellersangduetsinthedickey。

ItwasquitedarkwhenMr。Pickwickrousedhimselfsufficientlytolookoutofwindow。Thestragglingcottagesbytheroad-side，thedingyhueofeveryobjectvisible，themurkyatmosphere，thepathsofcindersandbrick-dust，thedeep-redglowoffurnacefiresinthedistance，thevolumesofdensesmokeissuingheavilyforthfromhightopplingchimneys，blackeningandobscuringeverythingaround。theglareofdistantlights，theponderouswaggonswhichtoiledalongtheroad，ladenwithclashingrodsofiron，orpiledwithheavygoods——allbetokenedtheirrapidapproachtothegreatworkingtownofBirmingham。

Astheyrattledthroughthenarrowthoroughfaresleadingtotheheartoftheturmoil，thesightsandsoundsofearnestoccupationstruckmoreforciblyonthesenses。Thestreetswerethrongedwithworking-people。

Thehumoflabourresoundedfromeveryhouse，lightsgleamedfromthelongcasementwindowsintheatticstories，andthewhirlofwheelsandnoiseofmachineryshookthetremblingwalls。Thefires，whoseluridsullenlighthadbeenvisibleformiles，blazedfiercelyup，inthegreatworksandfactoriesofthetown。Thedinofhammers，therushingofsteam，andthedeadheavyclankingofengines，wastheharshmusicwhicharosefromeveryquarter。

Thepostboywasdrivingbrisklythroughtheopenstreets，andpastthehandsomeandwell-lightedshopswhichintervenebetweentheoutskirtsofthetownandtheOldRoyalHotel，beforeMr。Pickwickhadbeguntoconsidertheverydifficultanddelicatenatureofthecommissionwhichhadcarriedhimthither。

Thedelicatenatureofthiscommission，andthedifficultyofexecutingitinasatisfactorymanner，werebynomeanslessenedbythevoluntarycompanionshipofMr。BobSawyer。Truthtotell，Mr。Pickwickfeltthathispresenceontheoccasion，howeverconsiderateandgratifying，wasbynomeansanhonourhewouldwillinglyhavesought。infact，hewouldcheerfullyhavegivenareasonablesumofmoneytohavehadMr。BobSawyerremovedtoanyplaceatnotlessthanfiftymiles’distance，withoutdelay。

Mr。PickwickhadneverheldanypersonalcommunicationwithMr。Winkle，senior，althoughhehadonceortwicecorrespondedwithhimbyletter，andreturnedsatisfactoryanswerstohisinquiriesconcerningthemoralcharacterandbehaviourofhisson。hefeltnervouslysensiblethattowaituponhim，forthefirsttime，attendedbyBobSawyerandBenAllen，bothslightlyfuddled，wasnotthemostingeniousandlikelymeansthatcouldhavebeenhitupontoprepossesshiminhisfavour。

However，saidMr。Pickwick，endeavouringtore-assurehimself，I

mustdothebestIcan。Imustseehimto-night，forIfaithfullypromisedtodoso。Iftheypersistinaccompanyingme，Imustmaketheinterviewasbriefaspossible，andbecontenttohopethat，fortheirownsakes，theywillnotexposethemselves。

Ashecomfortedhimselfwiththesereflections，thechaisestoppedatthedooroftheOldRoyal。BenAllenhavingbeenpartiallyawakenedfromastupendoussleep，anddraggedoutbythecollarbyMr。SamuelWeller，Mr。Pickwickwasenabledtoalight。Theywereshowntoacomfortableapartment，andMr。PickwickatoncepropoundedaquestiontothewaiterconcerningthewhereaboutofMr。Winkle’sresidence。

Closeby，sir，saidthewaiter，notabovefivehundredyards，sir。

Mr。Winkleisawharfinger，sir，atthecanal，sir。Privateresidenceisnot——ohdearno，sir，notfivehundredyards，sir。Herethewaiterblewacandleout，andmadeafeintoflightingitagain，inordertoaffordMr。Pickwickanopportunityofaskinganyfurtherquestions，ifhefeltsodisposed。

Takeanythingnow，sir？saidthewaiter，lightingthecandleindesperationatMr。Pickwick’ssilence。Teaorcoffee，sir？Dinner，sir？

Nothingnow。

Verygood，sir。Liketoordersupper，sir？

Notjustnow。

Verygood，sir。Here，hewalkedsoftlytothedoor，andthenstoppingshort，turnedround，andsaid，withgreatsuavity：

ShallIsendthechambermaid，gentlemen？

Youmayifyouplease。repliedMr。Pickwick。

Ifyouplease，sir。

Andbringsomesodawater，saidBobSawyer。

Sodawater，sir？Yes，sir。Withhismindapparentlyrelievedfromanoverwhelmingweight，byhavingatlastgotanorderforsomething，thewaiterimperceptiblymeltedaway。Waitersneverwalkorrun。Theyhaveapeculiarandmysteriouspowerofskimmingoutofrooms，whichothermortalspossessnot。

SomeslightsymptomsofvitalityhavingbeenawakenedinMr。BenAllenbythesodawater，hesufferedhimselftobeprevailedupontowashhisfaceandhands，andtosubmittobebrushedbySam。Mr。PickwickandBobSawyerhavingalsorepairedthedisorderwhichthejourneyhadmadeintheirapparel，thethreestartedforth，arminarm，toMr。Winkle’s。BobSawyerimpregnatingtheatmospherewithtobaccosmokeashewalkedalong。

Aboutaquarterofamileoff，inaquiet，substantial-lookingstreet，stoodanoldred-brickhousewiththreestepsbeforethedoor，andabrassplateuponit，bearing，infatRomancapitals，thewords，Mr。Winkle。

Thestepswereverywhite，andthebrickswereveryred，andthehousewasveryclean。andherestoodMr。Pickwick，Mr。BenjaminAllen，andMr。

BobSawyer，astheclockstruckten。

Asmartservantgirlansweredtheknock，andstartedonbeholdingthethreestrangers。

IsMr。Winkleathome，mydear？inquiredMr。Pickwick。

Heisjustgoingtosupper，sir，repliedthegirl。

Givehimthatcardifyouplease，rejoinedMr。Pickwick。SayIamsorrytotroublehimatsolateanhour。butIamanxioustoseehimto-night，andhaveonlyjustarrived。

ThegirllookedtimidlyatMr。BobSawyer，whowasexpressinghisadmirationofherpersonalcharmsbyavarietyofwonderfulgrimaces。andcastinganeyeatthehatsandgreatcoatswhichhunginthepassage，calledanothergirltomindthedoorwhileshewentup-stairs。Thesentinelwasspeedilyrelieved。forthegirlreturnedimmediately，andbeggingpardonofthegentlemenforleavingtheminthestreet，usheredthemintoafloor-clothedbackparlour，halfofficeandhalfdressing-room，inwhichtheprincipalusefulandornamentalarticlesoffurniture，wereadesk，awash-handstandandshavingglass，aboot-rackandboot-jack，ahighstool，fourchairs，atable，andanoldeight-dayclock。Overthemantel-piecewerethesunkendoorsofanironsafe，whileacoupleofhangingshelvesforbooks，andalmanack，andseveralfilesofdustypapers，decoratedthewalls。

Verysorrytoleaveyoustandingatthedoor，sir，saidthegirl，lightingalamp，andaddressingMr。Pickwickwithawinningsmile，butyouwasquitestrangerstome。andwehavesuchamanytrampersthatonlycometoseewhattheycanlaytheirhandson，thatreally——

Thereisnottheleastoccasionforanyapology，mydear，saidMr。

Pickwickgoodhumouredly。

Nottheslightest，mylove，saidBobSawyer，playfullystretchingforthhisarms，andskippingfromsidetoside，asiftopreventtheyounglady’sleavingtheroom。

Theyoungladywasnotatallsoftenedbytheseallurements，forsheatonceexpressedheropinionthatMr。BobSawyerwasanodouscreetur。

and，onhisbecomingrathermorepressinginhisattentions，imprintedherfairfingersuponhisface，andbouncedoutoftheroomwithmanyexpressionsofaversionandcontempt。

Deprivedoftheyounglady’ssociety，Mr。BobSawyerproceededtodiverthimselfbypeepingintothedesk，lookingintoallthetable-drawers，feigningtopickthelockoftheironsafe，turningthealmanackwithitsfacetothewall，tryingonthebootsofMr。Winkle，senior，overhisown，andmakingseveralotherhumorousexperimentsuponthefurniture，allofwhichaffordedMr。Pickwickunspeakablehorrorandagony，andyieldedMr。BobSawyerproportionatedelight。

Atlengththedooropened，andalittleoldgentlemaninasnuff-colouredsuit，withaheadandfacetheprecisecounterpartofthosebelongingtoMr。Winkle，junior，exceptingthathewasratherbald，trottedintotheroomwithMr。Pickwick’scardinonehand，andasilvercandlestickintheother。

Mr。Pickwick，sir，howdoyoudo？saidWinkletheelder，puttingdownthecandlestickandprofferinghishand。HopeIseeyouwell，sir。Gladtoseeyou。Beseated，Mr。Pickwick，Ibeg，sir。Thisgentlemanis——

Myfriend，Mr。Sawyer，interposedMr。Pickwick，yourson’sfriend。

Oh，saidMr。Winkletheelder，lookingrathergrimlyatBob。Ihopeyouarewell，sir。

Rightasatrivet，sir，repliedBobSawyer。

Thisothergentleman，criedMr。Pickwick，is，asyouwillsee，whenyouhavereadtheletterwithwhichIamentrusted，averynearrelative，orIshouldrathersayaveryparticularfriendofyourson’s。HisnameisAllen。

Thatgentleman？inquiredMr。Winkle，pointingwiththecardtowardsBenAllen，whohadfallenasleepinanattitudewhichleftnothingofhimvisiblebuthisspineandhiscoatcollar。

Mr。Pickwickwasonthepointofreplyingtothequestion，andrecitingMr。BenjaminAllen’snameandhonourabledistinctionsatfulllength，whenthesprightlyMr。BobSawyer，withaviewofrousinghisfriendtoasenseofhissituation，inflictedastartlingpinchuponthefleshypartofhisarm，whichcausedhimtojumpupwithashriek。Suddenlyawarethathewasinthepresenceofastranger，Mr。BenAllenadvanced，and，shakingMr。Winklemostaffectionatelybybothhandsforaboutfiveminutes，murmured，insomehalf-intelligiblefragmentsofsentences，thegreatdelighthefeltinseeinghim，andahospitableinquirywhetherhefeltdisposedtotakeanythingafterhiswalk，orwouldpreferwaitingtilldinner-time。

whichdone，hesatdownandgazedabouthimwithapetrifiedstare，asifhehadnottheremotestideawherehewas，whichindeedhehadnot。

AllthiswasmostembarrassingtoMr。Pickwick，themoreespeciallyasMr。Winkle，senior，evincedpalpableastonishmentattheeccentric——nottosayextraordinary——behaviourofhistwocompanions。Tobringthemattertoanissueatonce，hedrewaletterfromhispocket，andpresentingittoMr。Winkle，senior，said：

Thisletter，sir，isfromyourson。Youwillsee，byitscontents，thatonyourfavourableandfatherlyconsiderationofit，dependhisfuturehappinessandwelfare。Willyouobligemebygivingitthecalmestandcoolestperusal，andbydiscussingthesubjectafterwards，withme，inthetoneandspiritinwhichaloneitoughttobediscussed？Youmayjudgeoftheimportanceofyourdecisiontoyourson，andhisintenseanxietyuponthesubject，bymywaitinguponyou，withoutanypreviouswarning，atsolateanhour。and，addedMr。Pickwick，glancingslightlyathistwocompanions，andundersuchunfavourablecircumstances。

Withthisprelude，Mr。Pickwickplacedfourcloselywrittensidesofextrasuperfinewire-wovepenitenceinthehandsoftheastoundedMr。Winkle，senior。Thenreseatinghimselfinhischair，hewatchedhislooksandmanner：

anxiously，itistrue，butwiththeopenfrontofagentlemanwhofeelshehastakennopartwhichheneedexcuseorpalliate。

Theoldwharfingerturnedtheletterover。lookedatthefront，back，andsides。madeamicroscopicexaminationofthefatlittleboyontheseal。raisedhiseyestoMr。Pickwick’sface。andthen，seatinghimselfonthehighstool，anddrawingthelampclosertohim，brokethewax，unfoldedtheepistle，andliftingittothelight，preparedtoread。

Justatthismoment，Mr。BobSawyer，whosewithadlaindormantforsomeminutes，placedhishandsuponhisknees，andmadeafaceaftertheportraitsofthelateMr。Grimaldi，asclown。ItsohappenedthatMr。Winkle，senior，insteadofbeingdeeplyengagedinreadingtheletter，asMr。BobSawyerthought，chancedtobelookingoverthetopofitatnolessapersonthanMr。BobSawyerhimself。rightlyconjecturingthatthefaceaforesaidwasmadeinridiculeandderisionofhisownperson，hefixedhiseyesonBobwithsuchexpressivesternness，thatthelateMr。Grimaldi’slineamentsgraduallyresolvedthemselvesintoaveryfineexpressionofhumilityandconfusion。

Didyouspeak，sir？inquiredMr。Winkle，senior，afteranawfulsilence。

No，sir，repliedBob，withnoremainsoftheclownabouthim，saveandexcepttheextremerednessofhischeeks。

Youaresureyoudidnot，sir？saidMr。Winkle，senior。

Ohdear，yes，sir，quite，repliedBob。

Ithoughtyoudid，sir，rejoinedtheoldgentleman，withindignantemphasis。Perhapsyoulookedatme，sir？

Oh，no！sir，notatall，repliedBob，withextremecivility。

Iamverygladtohearit，sir，saidMr。Winkle，senior。HavingfrownedupontheabashedBobwithgreatmagnificence，theoldgentlemanagainbroughtthelettertothelight，andbegantoreaditseriously。

Mr。Pickwickeyedhimintentlyasheturnedfromthebottomlineofthefirstpagetothetoplineofthesecond，andfromthebottomofthesecondtothetopofthethird，andfromthebottomofthethird，tothetopofthefourth。butnottheslightestalterationofcountenanceaffordedacluetothefeelingswithwhichhereceivedtheannouncementofhisson’smarriage，whichMr。Pickwickknewwasintheveryfirsthalf-dozenlines。

Hereadthelettertothelastword。foldeditagainwithallthecarefulnessandprecisionofamanofbusiness。and，justwhenMr。Pickwickexpectedsomegreatoutbreakoffeeling，dippedapenintheinkstand，andsaidasquietlyasifhewerespeakingonthemostordinarycounting-housetopic：

WhatisNathaniel’saddress，Mr。Pickwick？

TheGeorgeandVulture，atpresent，repliedthatgentleman。

GeorgeandVulture。Whereisthat？

GeorgeYard，LombardStreet。

IntheCity？

Yes。

Theoldgentlemanmethodicallyindorsedtheaddressonthebackoftheletter。andthen，placingitinthedesk，whichhelocked，saidashegotoffthestoolandputthebunchofkeysinhispocket：

Isupposethereisnothingelsewhichneeddetainus，Mr。Pickwick？

Nothingelse，mydearsir！observedthatwarm-heartedpersoninindignantamazement。Nothingelse！Haveyounoopiniontoexpressonthismomentouseventinouryoungfriend’slife？Noassurancetoconveytohim，throughme，ofthecontinuanceofyouraffectionandprotection？Nothingtosaywhichwillcheerandsustainhim，andtheanxiousgirlwholookstohimforcomfortandsupport？Mydearsir，c