He has come out,' said little Mr Perker, greatly excited; the more so as

their position did not enable them to see what was going forward.

Another cheer, much louder.

He has shaken hands with the men,' cried the little agent.

Another cheer, far more vehement.

He has patted the babies on the head,' said Mr Perker, trembling with

anxiety.

A roar of applause that rent the air.

He has kissed one of 'em!' exclaimed the delighted little man.

A second roar.

He has kissed another,' gasped the excited manager.

A third roar.

He's kissing 'em all!' screamed the enthusiastic little gentleman, and

hailed by the deafening shouts of the multitude, the procession moved

on.

How or by what means it became mixed up with the other procession,

and how it was ever extricated from the confusion consequent

thereupon, is more than we can undertake to describe, inasmuch as

Mr Pickwick's hat was knocked over his eyes, nose, and mouth, by

one poke of a Buff flag-staff, very early in the proceedings. He

describes himself as being surrounded on every side, when he could

catch a glimpse of the scene, by angry and ferocious countenances, by

a vast cloud of dust, and by a dense crowd of combatants. He

represents himself as being forced from the carriage by some unseen

power, and being personally engaged in a pugilistic encounter; but

with whom, or how, or why, he is wholly unable to state. He then felt

himself forced up some wooden steps by the persons from behind; and

on removing his hat, found himself surrounded by his friends, in the

very front of the left hand side of the hustings. The right was reserved

for the Buff party, and the centre for the mayor and his officers; one of

whom - the fat crier of Eatanswill - was ringing an enormous bell, by

way of commanding silence, while Mr Horatio Fizkin, and the

Honourable Samuel Slumkey, with their hands upon their hearts,

were bowing with the utmost affability to the troubled sea of heads

that inundated the open space in front; and from whence arose a

storm of groans, and shouts, and yells, and hootings, that would have

done honour to an earthquake.

The Pickwick Papers