Having said which, and having paused for an instant to see whether

he was wanted for anything more, Sam left the room.

'Half-past nine - just the time - off at once;' said the gentleman, whom

we need hardly introduce as Mr Jingle.

'Time - for what?' said the spinster aunt coquettishly.

'Licence, dearest of angels - give notice at the church - call you mine,

to-morrow' - said Mr Jingle, and he squeezed the spinster aunt's

hand.

The licence!' said Rachael, blushing.

The licence,' repeated Mr Jingle - 'In hurry, post-haste for a licence,

In hurry, ding dong I come back.'

How you run on,' said Rachael.

Run on - nothing to the hours, days, weeks, months, years, when

we're united - run on - they'll fly on - bolt - mizzle - steam-engine -

thousand-horse power - nothing to it.'

Can't - can't we be married before to-morrow morning?' inquired

Rachael. 'Impossible - can't be - notice at the church - leave the

licence to-day - ceremony come off to-morrow.' 'I am so terrified, lest

my brother should discover us!' said Rachael.

Discover - nonsense - too much shaken by the break-down - besides

extreme caution - gave up the post-chaise - walked on - took a

hackney-coach - came to the Borough - last place in the world that

he'd look in - ha! ha! - capital notion that - very.'

Don't be long,' said the spinster affectionately, as Mr Jingle stuck the

pinched-up hat on his head.

'Long away from you? - Cruel charmer;' and Mr Jingle skipped

playfully up to the spinster aunt, imprinted a chaste kiss upon her

lips, and danced out of the room.

Dear man!' said the spinster, as the door closed after him.

Rum old girl,' said Mr Jingle, as he walked down the passage.

It is painful to reflect upon the perfidy of our species; and we will not,

therefore, pursue the thread of Mr Jingle's meditations, as he wended

his way to Doctors' Commons. It will be sufficient for our purpose to

relate, that escaping the snares of the dragons in white aprons, who

The Pickwick Papers