lawsuits - all I can say o' them is, that I vish they had the reward I'd

give 'em.'

Ah, I wish they had the reward that every kind and generous heart

would be inclined to bestow upon them!' said the gratified Mrs.

Bardell.

'Amen to that,' replied Sam, 'and a fat and happy liven' they'd get out

of it! Wish you good-night, ladies.'

To the great relief of Mrs. Sanders, Sam was allowed to depart without

any reference, on the part of the hostess, to the pettitoes and toasted

cheese; to which the ladies, with such juvenile assistance as Master

Bardell could afford, soon afterwards rendered the amplest justice -

indeed they wholly vanished before their strenuous exertions.

Mr Weller wended his way back to the George and Vulture, and

faithfully recounted to his master, such indications of the sharp

practice of Dodson & Fogg, as he had contrived to pick up in his visit

to Mrs. Bardell's. An interview with Mr Perker, next day, more than

confirmed Mr Weller's statement; and Mr Pickwick was fain to prepare

for his Christmas visit to Dingley Dell, with the pleasant anticipation

that some two or three months afterwards, an action brought against

him for damages sustained by reason of a breach of promise of

marriage, would be publicly tried in the Court of Common Pleas; the

plaintiff having all the advantages derivable, not only from the force of

circumstances, but from the sharp practice of Dodson & Fogg to boot.

The Pickwick Papers