'Oh, you do, do you?' said Sam, 'come this way, then!'

The Blue Lion tap was soon gained, and the fat boy swallowed a glass

of liquor without so much as winking - a feat which considerably

advanced him in Mr Weller's good opinion. Mr Weller having

transacted a similar piece of business on his own account, they got

into the cart.

Can you drive?' said the fat boy. 'I should rayther think so,' replied

Sam.

'There, then,' said the fat boy, putting the reins in his hand, and

pointing up a lane, 'it's as straight as you can go; you can't miss it.'

With these words, the fat boy laid himself affectionately down by the

side of the cod-fish, and, placing an oyster-barrel under his head for a

pillow, fell asleep instantaneously.

Well,' said Sam, 'of all the cool boys ever I set my eyes on, this here

young gen'l'm'n is the coolest. Come, wake up, young dropsy!'

But as young dropsy evinced no symptoms of returning animation,

Sam Weller sat himself down in front of the cart, and starting the old

horse with a jerk of the rein, jogged steadily on, towards the Manor

Farm.

Meanwhile, Mr Pickwick and his friends having walked their blood

into active circulation, proceeded cheerfully on. The paths were hard;

the grass was crisp and frosty; the air had a fine, dry, bracing

coldness; and the rapid approach of the gray twilight (slate-coloured is

a better term in frosty weather) made them look forward with pleasant

anticipation to the comforts which awaited them at their hospitable

entertainer's. It was the sort of afternoon that might induce a couple

of elderly gentlemen, in a lonely field, to take off their greatcoats and

play at leap-frog in pure lightness of heart and gaiety; and we firmly

believe that had Mr Tupman at that moment proffered 'a back,' Mr

Pickwick would have accepted his offer with the utmost avidity.

However, Mr Tupman did not volunteer any such accommodation, and

the friends walked on, conversing merrily. As they turned into a lane

they had to cross, the sound of many voices burst upon their ears;

and before they had even had time to form a guess to whom they

belonged, they walked into the very centre of the party who were

expecting their arrival - a fact which was first notified to the

Pickwickians, by the loud 'Hurrah,' which burst from old Wardle's

lips, when they appeared in sight.

The Pickwick Papers