Call the lady of the house, and I'll tell her everything,' said Mr

Pickwick, exerting his lungs to the utmost pitch. 'Call her - only be

quiet, and call her, and you shall hear everything .'

It might have been Mr Pickwick's appearance, or it might have been

his manner, or it might have been the temptation - irresistible to a

female mind - of hearing something at present enveloped in mystery,

that reduced the more reasonable portion of the establishment (some

four individuals) to a state of comparative quiet. By them it was

proposed, as a test of Mr Pickwick's sincerity, that he should

immediately submit to personal restraint; and that gentleman having

consented to hold a conference with Miss Tomkins, from the interior of

a closet in which the day boarders hung their bonnets and sandwich-

bags, he at once stepped into it, of his own accord, and was securely

locked in. This revived the others; and Miss Tomkins having been

brought to, and brought down, the conference began.

What did you do in my garden, man?' said Miss Tomkins, in a faint

voice.

I came to warn you that one of your young ladies was going to elope

to-night,' replied Mr Pickwick, from the interior of the closet.

Elope!' exclaimed Miss Tomkins, the three teachers, the thirty

boarders, and the five servants. 'Who with?' 'Your friend, Mr Charles

Fitz-Marshall.'

MY friend! I don't know any such person.'

Well, Mr Jingle, then.'

I never heard the name in my life.'

Then, I have been deceived, and deluded,' said Mr Pickwick. 'I have

been the victim of a conspiracy - a foul and base conspiracy. Send to

the Angel, my dear ma'am, if you don't believe me. Send to the Angel

for Mr Pickwick's manservant, I implore you, ma'am.'

He must be respectable - he keeps a manservant,' said Miss Tomkins

to the writing and ciphering governess.

It's my opinion, Miss Tomkins,' said the writing and ciphering

governess, 'that his manservant keeps him, I think he's a madman,

Miss Tomkins, and the other's his keeper.'

'I think you are very right, Miss Gwynn,' responded Miss Tomkins. 'Let

two of the servants repair to the Angel, and let the others remain here,

to protect us.'

The Pickwick Papers