the old gentleman, with a knowing shake of the head. 'Do you mean

my single relative - eh?'

Mr Tupman, by a nod, intimated that his question applied to the

disappointed Rachael.

'Oh, she's gone away,' said the old gentleman. 'She's living at a

relation's, far enough off. She couldn't bear to see the girls, so I let her

go. But come! Here's the dinner. You must be hungry after your ride. I

am, without any ride at all; so let us fall to.'

Ample justice was done to the meal; and when they were seated round

the table, after it had been disposed of, Mr Pickwick, to the intense

horror and indignation of his followers, related the adventure he had

undergone, and the success which had attended the base artifices of

the diabolical Jingle. 'And the attack of rheumatism which I caught in

that garden,' said Mr Pickwick, in conclusion, 'renders me lame at this

moment.'

'I, too, have had something of an adventure,' said Mr Winkle, with a

smile; and, at the request of Mr Pickwick, he detailed the malicious

libel of the Eatanswill INDEPENDENT, and the consequent excitement

of their friend, the editor.

Mr Pickwick's brow darkened during the recital. His friends observed

it, and, when Mr Winkle had concluded, maintained a profound

silence. Mr Pickwick struck the table emphatically with his clenched

fist, and spoke as follows: -

Is it not a wonderful circumstance,' said Mr Pickwick, 'that we seem

destined to enter no man's house without involving him in some

degree of trouble? Does it not, I ask, bespeak the indiscretion, or,

worse than that, the blackness of heart - that I should say so! - of my

followers, that, beneath whatever roof they locate, they disturb the

peace of mind and happiness of some confiding female? Is it not, I say

Mr Pickwick would in all probability have gone on for some time, had

not the entrance of Sam, with a letter, caused him to break off in his

eloquent discourse. He passed his handkerchief across his forehead,

took off his spectacles, wiped them, and put them on again; and his

voice had recovered its wonted softness of tone when he said -

What have you there, Sam?'

Called at the post-office just now, and found this here letter, as has

laid there for two days,' replied Mr Weller. 'It's sealed vith a vafer, and

directed in round hand.'

The Pickwick Papers