deliciously in a little tin saucepan on the hob; and Mrs. Bardell and

her two friends were getting on very well, also, in a little quiet

conversation about and concerning all their particular friends and

acquaintance; when Master Bardell came back from answering the

door, and delivered the message intrusted to him by Mr Samuel

Weller.

Mr Pickwick's servant!' said Mrs. Bardell, turning pale.

Bless my soul!' said Mrs. Cluppins.

Well, I raly would not ha' believed it, unless I had ha' happened to ha'

been here!' said Mrs. Sanders.

Mrs. Cluppins was a little, brisk, busy-looking woman; Mrs. Sanders

was a big, fat, heavy-faced personage; and the two were the company.

Mrs. Bardell felt it proper to be agitated; and as none of the three

exactly knew whether under existing circumstances, any

communication, otherwise than through Dodson & Fogg, ought to be

held with Mr Pickwick's servant, they were all rather taken by

surprise. In this state of indecision, obviously the first thing to be

done, was to thump the boy for finding Mr Weller at the door. So his

mother thumped him, and he cried melodiously.

Hold your noise - do - you naughty creetur!' said Mrs. Bardell.

Yes; don't worrit your poor mother,' said Mrs. Sanders.

She's quite enough to worrit her, as it is, without you, Tommy,' said

Mrs. Cluppins, with sympathising resignation.

Ah! worse luck, poor lamb!' said Mrs. Sanders. At all which moral

reflections, Master Bardell howled the louder.

'Now, what shall I do?' said Mrs. Bardell to Mrs. Cluppins.

'I think you ought to see him,' replied Mrs. Cluppins. 'But on no

account without a witness.'

'I think two witnesses would be more lawful,' said Mrs. Sanders, who,

like the other friend, was bursting with curiosity.

'Perhaps he'd better come in here,' said Mrs. Bardell.

'To be sure,' replied Mrs. Cluppins, eagerly catching at the idea; 'walk

in, young man; and shut the street door first, please.'

The Pickwick Papers