to sit with her, and make her comfortable,' resumed Mrs. Cluppins,

glancing at the tin saucepan and the Dutch oven, 'it's shocking!'

Barbareous,' said Mrs. Sanders.

And your master, young man! A gentleman with money, as could

never feel the expense of a wife, no more than nothing,' continued

Mrs. Cluppins, with great volubility; 'why there ain't the faintest shade

of an excuse for his behaviour! Why don't he marry her?'

Ah,' said Sam, 'to be sure; that's the question.'

Question, indeed,' retorted Mrs. Cluppins, 'she'd question him, if

she'd my spirit. Hows'ever, there is law for us women, mis'rable

creeturs as they'd make us, if they could; and that your master will

find out, young man, to his cost, afore he's six months older.'

At this consolatory reflection, Mrs. Cluppins bridled up, and smiled at

Mrs. Sanders, who smiled back again.

The action's going on, and no mistake,' thought Sam, as Mrs. Bardell

re-entered with the receipt.

'Here's the receipt, Mr Weller,' said Mrs. Bardell, 'and here's the

change, and I hope you'll take a little drop of something to keep the

cold out, if it's only for old acquaintance' sake, Mr Weller.'

Sam saw the advantage he should gain, and at once acquiesced;

whereupon Mrs. Bardell produced, from a small closet, a black bottle

and a wine-glass; and so great was her abstraction, in her deep

mental affliction, that, after filling Mr Weller's glass, she brought out

three more wine-glasses, and filled them too.

Lauk, Mrs. Bardell,' said Mrs. Cluppins, 'see what you've been and

done!'

'Well, that is a good one!' ejaculated Mrs. Sanders.

'Ah, my poor head!' said Mrs. Bardell, with a faint smile.

Sam understood all this, of course, so he said at once, that he never

could drink before supper, unless a lady drank with him. A great deal

of laughter ensued, and Mrs. Sanders volunteered to humour him, so

she took a slight sip out of her glass. Then Sam said it must go all

round, so they all took a slight sip. Then little Mrs. Cluppins proposed

as a toast, 'Success to Bardell agin Pickwick'; and then the ladies

emptied their glasses in honour of the sentiment, and got very

talkative directly.

The Pickwick Papers