'Hear, hear! Hear, hear! Hear, hear!' cried Mr Weller, in the excitement

of his feelings.

Call in all the servants,' cried old Wardle, interposing to prevent the

public rebuke which Mr Weller would otherwise most indubitably have

received from his master. 'Give them a glass of wine each to drink the

toast in. Now, Pickwick.'

Amidst the silence of the company, the whispering of the women-

servants, and the awkward embarrassment of the men, Mr Pickwick

proceeded -

'Ladies and gentlemen - no, I won't say ladies and gentlemen, I'll call

you my friends, my dear friends, if the ladies will allow me to take so

great a liberty - '

Here Mr Pickwick was interrupted by immense applause from the

ladies, echoed by the gentlemen, during which the owner of the eyes

was distinctly heard to state that she could kiss that dear Mr

Pickwick. Whereupon Mr Winkle gallantly inquired if it couldn't be

done by deputy: to which the young lady with the black eyes replied

'Go away,' and accompanied the request with a look which said as

plainly as a look could do, 'if you can.'

'My dear friends,' resumed Mr Pickwick, 'I am going to propose the

health of the bride and bridegroom - God bless 'em (cheers and tears).

My young friend, Trundle, I believe to be a very excellent and manly

fellow; and his wife I know to be a very amiable and lovely girl, well

qualified to transfer to another sphere of action the happiness which

for twenty years she has diffused around her, in her father's house.

(

Here, the fat boy burst forth into stentorian blubberings, and was led

forth by the coat collar, by Mr Weller.) I wish,' added Mr Pickwick - 'I

wish I was young enough to be her sister's husband (cheers), but,

failing that, I am happy to be old enough to be her father; for, being

so, I shall not be suspected of any latent designs when I say, that I

admire, esteem, and love them both (cheers and sobs). The bride's

father, our good friend there, is a noble person, and I am proud to

know him (great uproar). He is a kind, excellent, independent-spirited,

fine-hearted, hospitable, liberal man (enthusiastic shouts from the

poor relations, at all the adjectives; and especially at the two last).

That his daughter may enjoy all the happiness, even he can desire;

and that he may derive from the contemplation of her felicity all the

gratification of heart and peace of mind which he so well deserves, is, I

am persuaded, our united wish. So, let us drink their healths, and

wish them prolonged life, and every blessing!'

Mr Pickwick concluded amidst a whirlwind of applause; and once

more were the lungs of the supernumeraries, under Mr Weller's

The Pickwick Papers