| 222 | 223 | 224 | 225 | 226 |
| 1 | 198 | 396 | 594 | 792 |
|
So two of the servants were despatched to the Angel in search of Mr
Samuel Weller; and the remaining three stopped behind to protect
Miss Tomkins, and the three teachers, and the thirty boarders. And
Mr Pickwick sat down in the closet, beneath a grove of sandwich-bags,
and awaited the return of the messengers, with all the philosophy and
fortitude he could summon to his aid.
An hour and a half elapsed before they came back, and when they did
come, Mr Pickwick recognised, in addition to the voice of Mr Samuel
Weller, two other voices, the tones of which struck familiarly on his
ear; but whose they were, he could not for the life of him call to mind.
A very brief conversation ensued. The door was unlocked. Mr Pickwick
stepped out of the closet, and found himself in the presence of the
whole establishment of Westgate House, Mr Samuel Weller, and - old
Wardle, and his destined son-in-law, Mr Trundle!
'My dear friend,' said Mr Pickwick, running forward and grasping
Wardle's hand, 'my dear friend, pray, for Heaven's sake, explain to
this lady the unfortunate and dreadful situation in which I am placed.
You must have heard it from my servant; say, at all events, my dear
fellow, that I am neither a robber nor a madman.'
'I have said so, my dear friend. I have said so already,' replied Mr
Wardle, shaking the right hand of his friend, while Mr Trundle shook
the left. 'And whoever says, or has said, he is,' interposed Mr Weller,
stepping forward, 'says that which is not the truth, but so far from it,
on the contrary, quite the rewerse. And if there's any number o' men
on these here premises as has said so, I shall be wery happy to give
'em all a wery convincing proof o' their being mistaken, in this here
wery room, if these wery respectable ladies 'll have the goodness to
retire, and order 'em up, one at a time.' Having delivered this defiance
with great volubility, Mr Weller struck his open palm emphatically
with his clenched fist, and winked pleasantly on Miss Tomkins, the
intensity of whose horror at his supposing it within the bounds of
possibility that there could be any men on the premises of Westgate
House Establishment for Young Ladies, it is impossible to describe.
Mr Pickwick's explanation having already been partially made, was
soon concluded. But neither in the course of his walk home with his
friends, nor afterwards when seated before a blazing fire at the supper
he so much needed, could a single observation be drawn from him. He
seemed bewildered and amazed. Once, and only once, he turned
round to Mr Wardle, and said -
'
How did you come here?'
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