'Ah,' said Mr Pickwick, 'very true; so it is.' Mr Pickwick relapsed into

silence, and Mrs. Bardell resumed her dusting.

Mrs. Bardell,' said Mr Pickwick, at the expiration of a few minutes.

Sir,' said Mrs. Bardell again. 'Do you think it a much greater expense

to keep two people, than to keep one?'

La, Mr Pickwick,' said Mrs. Bardell, colouring up to the very border of

her cap, as she fancied she observed a species of matrimonial twinkle

in the eyes of her lodger; 'La, Mr Pickwick, what a question!'

Well, but do you?' inquired Mr Pickwick.

That depends,' said Mrs. Bardell, approaching the duster very near to

Mr Pickwick's elbow which was planted on the table. 'that depends a

good deal upon the person, you know, Mr Pickwick; and whether it's a

saving and careful person, sir.'

(

That's very true,' said Mr Pickwick, 'but the person I have in my eye

here he looked very hard at Mrs. Bardell) I think possesses these

qualities; and has, moreover, a considerable knowledge of the world,

and a great deal of sharpness, Mrs. Bardell, which may be of material

use to me.'

'La, Mr Pickwick,' said Mrs. Bardell, the crimson rising to her cap-

border again.

'I do,' said Mr Pickwick, growing energetic, as was his wont in

speaking of a subject which interested him - 'I do, indeed; and to tell

you the truth, Mrs. Bardell, I have made up my mind.'

Dear me, sir,'exclaimed Mrs. Bardell.

You'll think it very strange now,' said the amiable Mr Pickwick, with a

good-humoured glance at his companion, 'that I never consulted you

about this matter, and never even mentioned it, till I sent your little

boy out this morning - eh?'

Mrs. Bardell could only reply by a look. She had long worshipped Mr

Pickwick at a distance, but here she was, all at once, raised to a

pinnacle to which her wildest and most extravagant hopes had never

dared to aspire. Mr Pickwick was going to propose - a deliberate plan,

too - sent her little boy to the Borough, to get him out of the way - how

thoughtful - how considerate!

Well,' said Mr Pickwick, 'what do you think?'

The Pickwick Papers