Chapter XXXIII

Mr Weller The Elder Delivers Some Critical Sentiments

Respecting Literary Composition; And, Assisted By His Son

Samuel, Pays A Small Instalment Of Retaliation To The Account

Of The Reverend Gentleman With The Red Nose

The morning of the thirteenth of February, which the readers of this

authentic narrative know, as well as we do, to have been the day

immediately preceding that which was appointed for the trial of Mrs.

Bardell's action, was a busy time for Mr Samuel Weller, who was

perpetually engaged in travelling from the George and Vulture to Mr

Perker's chambers and back again, from and between the hours of

nine o'clock in the morning and two in the afternoon, both inclusive.

Not that there was anything whatever to be done, for the consultation

had taken place, and the course of proceeding to be adopted, had

been finally determined on; but Mr Pickwick being in a most extreme

state of excitement, persevered in constantly sending small notes to

his attorney, merely containing the inquiry, 'Dear Perker. Is all going

on well?' to which Mr Perker invariably forwarded the reply, 'Dear

Pickwick. As well as possible'; the fact being, as we have already

hinted, that there was nothing whatever to go on, either well or ill,

until the sitting of the court on the following morning.

But people who go voluntarily to law, or are taken forcibly there, for

the first time, may be allowed to labour under some temporary

irritation and anxiety; and Sam, with a due allowance for the frailties

of human nature, obeyed all his master's behests with that

imperturbable good-humour and unruffable composure which formed

one of his most striking and amiable characteristics.

Sam had solaced himself with a most agreeable little dinner, and was

waiting at the bar for the glass of warm mixture in which Mr Pickwick

had requested him to drown the fatigues of his morning's walks, when

a young boy of about three feet high, or thereabouts, in a hairy cap

and fustian overalls, whose garb bespoke a laudable ambition to

attain in time the elevation of an hostler, entered the passage of the

George and Vulture, and looked first up the stairs, and then along the

passage, and then into the bar, as if in search of somebody to whom

he bore a commission; whereupon the barmaid, conceiving it not

improbable that the said commission might be directed to the tea or

table spoons of the establishment, accosted the boy with -

'Now, young man, what do you want?'

Is there anybody here, named Sam?' inquired the youth, in a loud

voice of treble quality.

The Pickwick Papers