sandwiches - forgot the arch - crash - knock - children look round -

mother's head off - sandwich in her hand - no mouth to put it in -

head of a family off - shocking, shocking! Looking at Whitehall, sir? -

fine place - little window - somebody else's head off there, eh, sir? - he

didn't keep a sharp look-out enough either - eh, Sir, eh?'

'I am ruminating,' said Mr Pickwick, 'on the strange mutability of

human affairs.'

Ah! I see - in at the palace door one day, out at the window the next.

Philosopher, Sir?' 'An observer of human nature, Sir,' said Mr

Pickwick.

Ah, so am I. Most people are when they've little to do and less to get.

Poet, Sir?'

My friend Mr Snodgrass has a strong poetic turn,' said Mr Pickwick.

So have I,' said the stranger. 'Epic poem - ten thousand lines -

revolution of July - composed it on the spot - Mars by day, Apollo by

night - bang the field-piece, twang the lyre.'

You were present at that glorious scene, sir?' said Mr Snodgrass.

Present! think I was;* fired a musket - fired with an idea - rushed

into wine shop - wrote it down - back again - whiz, bang - another

idea - wine shop again - pen and ink - back again - cut and slash -

noble time, Sir. Sportsman, sir ?'abruptly turning to Mr Winkle. [* A

remarkable instance of the prophetic force of Mr Jingle's imagination;

this dialogue occurring in the year 1827, and the Revolution in 1830.

A little, Sir,' replied that gentleman.

Fine pursuit, sir - fine pursuit. - Dogs, Sir?'

Not just now,' said Mr Winkle.

Ah! you should keep dogs - fine animals - sagacious creatures - dog

of my own once - pointer - surprising instinct - out shooting one day -

entering inclosure - whistled - dog stopped - whistled again - Ponto -

no go; stock still - called him - Ponto, Ponto - wouldn't move - dog

transfixed - staring at a board - looked up, saw an inscription -

’

Gamekeeper has orders to shoot all dogs found in this inclosure’ -

wouldn't pass it - wonderful dog - valuable dog that - very.'

'Singular circumstance that,' said Mr Pickwick. 'Will you allow me to

make a note of it?'

The Pickwick Papers